Knowledge or Awareness of Non-communicable Diseases and their Associated Risk Factors among University Students in Fiji: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Chronic diseases (aka Non-communicable diseases, NCDs) contribute to the global burden
of morbidity and mortality, with a significant share of premature deaths among low-and middle-income
countries (LMICs), including Fiji. The early exposure to the risk factors of NCDs affects the entire life
course; knowledge or awareness of adolescents towards NCDs and associated risk factors is critical for
health promotion. This study aims to investigate the knowledge or awareness level of chronic conditions
and their risk factors among Fijian students.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 338 university students was recruited using the paper
as well as web-based pre-tested survey through a convenience sampling technique. Differences in
knowledge or awareness by gender, study year and program were analyzed using Chi-square/Fisher exact
test.
Results: Our research showed a higher proportion of females had knowledge or awareness about the
increasing prevalence of NCDs in Fiji and associated risk factors as opposed to males. Among different
programs, students enrolled in physical education were more likely to be aware about the global death toll
attributed to NCDs compared to those enrolled in science majors. As expected, the awareness levels were
higher among second- and third-year students than freshers. The most prominent information sources of
NCDs reported by the students were teachers.
Discussion: These findings highlight the need of developing school-based health awareness and promotion
programs.
Take-home message: The findings of this study will serve as the baseline data to develop new programs
and to evaluate existing programs (if any), as limited data are available related to the implementation of
NCDs prevention efforts in Fiji Islands.