Age, Tobacco Smoking, and Excessive Alcohol Intake as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases Among Civil Servants in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63561/jhssr.v3i1.1143Keywords:
Cardiovascular System, Risk Factors, Age, Excessive Alcohol Intake, Cigarette SmokingAbstract
The implication of age, tobacco smoking and high alcohol consumption as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among civil servants in Port Harcourt, Nigeria was investigated in this study. The civil service workforce in sub-Saharan Africa is a unique group that is often characterized by sedentary behaviour and occupational stress, as the burden of non-communicable diseases increases. A descriptive survey design was employed, utilizing a systematic sampling technique to select 500 junior and senior civil servants from ten randomly selected ministries within the Rivers State Secretariat. A total of 494 respondents correctly filled up the researcher’s validated structured questionnaire making the final sample. Reliability was established via the test-retest method (r = 0.78). The analysis of the data was done with descriptive statistics to create the demographic profiles while Chi-square (x2) inferential statistics were applied to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings show that age (x2 = 144.42), cigarette smoking (x2 = 83.26), and excessive alcohol consumption (x2 = 732.52) were all significant risk factors for cardiovascular issues in the subjects. The study concludes that modifiable lifestyle behaviours, compounded by advancing age, pose a severe threat to the workforce's health. It is advised that government and non-governmental organisations implement obligatory workplace wellness plans, lay down stringent regulations on selling tobacco and alcohol, and implement regular heart screening for civil servants to ensure the sustainability of the workforce.
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