Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in a Frontier, Outermost, and Least Developed (3T) Archipelagic Region of Indonesia: a Community Study

Abstract

Health is a universal right for all mankind, including those living in Indonesia's Frontier, Outermost, and Least Developed areas also known as 3T Regions. Ilngei and Kabiarat Villages, which were the locations of our community study, are one of the villages belong to such regions of Western Southeast Maluku Regency-or Tanimbar Islands. In addition to difficulty of achieving equitable health workers and facilities distribution, indigenous people have also been found to live some unhealthy lifestyles including routine consumption of local made alcohol beverages known as sopi and smoking habits. This situation could be a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and high blood cholesterol. Therefore, our KKN-PPM UGM team conducted a community service activity in form of a free health check-up. This activity was aimed to screen health conditions particularly exploring NCDs risk factors, increase public awareness of health, and provide a reference for further health interventions and researches in this area. This research is an observational descriptive study, with primary data obtained during health check-up. The health check-up was carried out separately in two villages respectively on January 18th and 25th, 2020. Participants were recruited with purposive sampling, through invitation determined by the team. We used a digital blood pressure monitor to measure blood pressure and automatic skin-prick test device to measure capillary random blood sugar and total cholesterol level. Out of 102 participants, those classified as pre-hypertension were 33 people (32.35%), stage I hypertension were 22 people (21.56%), stage II hypertension were 32 people (31.37%), uncertain DM were 55 people (57.89%), DM were 4 people (4.21%), borderline high total cholesterol level were 13 people (20.31%), and high total cholesterol level was 1 person (1.56%). Overall, the majority of participants had blood pressure and blood sugar level above the normal range. This kind of activity should be made on a regular basis to reach more number of participants and more detail information regarding NCDs risk factors.