Identification of risk factors of diabetes mellitus in bank employees of selected banks in Ndola town

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus, a lifelong disease is achieving pandemic proportions. The prevalence of diabetes is on the rise and is expected to be worlds 7th leading cause of death by 2030. Studies have associated a number of risk factors like obesity, lack of physical activity, sedentarism, diet, and stress to diabetes mellitus. The job of bank employees is both sedentary in nature and involves high levels of stress. These people spend almost all their working hours seated as they carry out their work. With this background, the primary objective study of this project is to identify risk factors of diabetes mellitus among bank employees of selected banks in Ndola town. This study also aims to find the prevalence of diabetes among bank employees in the selected nine banks. Methods A cross-section study was conducted on 121 bank employees from nine (9) selected banks of Ndola town center. Information about their biosocial characteristics, their weight, height, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose was measured and recorded and a questionnaire on physical activity of participants was administered. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20.0 for Windows. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to ascertain any correlation between the dependent variables and independent variables. Results Prevalence of diabetes mellitus was found to be 15%. The risk of developing Diabetes mellitus was high in obese participants (OR 5.1 [cl95%] p = 0.000). And in physical inactive participants it was also high (OR 7.6 [cl95%] p = 0.046). Conclusion and recommendations: Diabetes mellitus shows significant correlation with physical inactivity, body mass index, blood pressure, age and sex. Findings in this study support the need for programs to promote employee health, to help prevent and monitor the enormity and temporal trends of these factor as well as asses the actions that are directed toward this population group.