Determinants Of Non-communicable Diseases In Kenya: The Case Of Hypertension Among The Millennials.

Abstract

Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs), are defined as medical conditions or diseases which are neither transmitted from one person to another nor deemed as infectious. Main Non-Communicable Diseases include Cardiovascular diseases, Obesity, Cancer, Diabetes, Neurological Diseases, Mental illnesses, Injury and Chronic respiratory diseases. These diseases, if not well managed become very costly to manage, can lead to debilitating complications or premature loss of life. The study therefore aims to examine the determinants of Non-Communicable Diseases among the millennials in Kenya. Specifically, the study was to determine the Biometric parameters (BMI and Blood Pressure) of Millennials undergoing Primary care treatment at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and examine the socio-demographic characteristics affecting Non-Communicable Diseases of the millennials attending clinics at Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional study design. The sample size was 375 research tools. Cross-Sectional Data was collected using a questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was involved to collect data. Data was analysed applying descriptive statistics and effects of the determinants to hypertension were determined using Probit regression analysis. The study found out that elevated Visceral Fat and a variety of socio-demographic attributes of the clients were significant determining factors of hypertension. The study thus recommends that millennials should constantly involve themselves in physical exercises, stop smoking and alcohol intake and should also avoid a lot of fat, sugar and salt.