Comparative study of risk assessment for noncommunicable diseases among out patients visiting urban and rural health centers in Belagavi, Karnataka.

Purpose/Background: Hence, this comparative study of risk assessment was carried out among out patients visiting urban and rural health centers. This study aimed to find out and compare the risk factors for NCDs among out-patients visiting urban and rural health centers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Urban health centre Rukmini Nagar and Rural health centre Vantamuri. Using convenient universal sampling, 200 out-patients from urban area and 200 from rural area were selected. The data were entered into MS-EXCEL and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: In urban area, males were more common (53.7%), whereas females were more common in rural areas (53.8%). Maximum study participants were laborers in urban area (24.5%), whereas home makers were common in rural area (40.5%). Most people in urban areas (11.5%) were indulged in smoking, whereas only 5% smoked in rural area. Participants in urban area had higher waist circumference (20.5%) than those in rural area (17.5%). Physical inactivity was more in rural area (68%), as compared to urban area (47%). 29.5% of participants were found to be at risk for NCDs in urban area, whereas 30% of those were found to be at risk in rural area. Conclusions: Awareness regarding ill effects of risk factors: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity should be created among the community through health education and behavioral change communication to prevent its progression as a disease in future.