An empirical study on the socioeconomic factors affecting to chronic kidney disease in Anuradhapura district (with special reference to Kabithigollewa)

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease has become a major health issue especially in third world countries. In Sri Lanka main causative factors for CKD are not hypertension or diabetes like in other countries. High prevalence of CKD was identified in North Central Province in last few decades. But the causative factor of CKD is still unknown. The main objective of this study was to identify socioeconomic factors which affect the CKD in Anuradhapura district. Therefore the research problem is what are the socioeconomic factors affecting to CKD? In order to accomplish this task quantitative research approaches were employed. The research area was Kabithigollawe Divisional Secretariat and data was collected in Gonahaddanawa, Wattewewa, Aiyatlhigewewa Grama Niladhari divisions. The research sample was 100 and simple random sampling, stratified sampling methods were used to collect data from kidney patients. Key informant interviews and focused group discussions were also used to collect data. Dependent variable of the study is socioeconomic factors affecting to chronic kidney disease and independent variables are income, occupation, education and infrastructure facilities. In the theoretical part the concepts of factors affecting to chronic kidney disease were discussed. The results of the questionnaire and key informant interview present socioeconomic factors affecting to CKD and what are the policies have been taken to eradicate this situation. Male farmers who drink well water have a risk level of affecting from CKD. The mean age of the CKD patients is 60. Most of the patients have lower income and lower socioeconomic status. Majority of the patients have studied from grade 1 to grade 5. Water sources, food patterns and life style mainly affect for CKD. The socioeconomic background was depicted through their infrastructure facilities which were high under developed in this area. Enrich the knowledge of health education is important to eradicate CKD in Sri Lanka.