Health Behavior Regarding Cardiovascular Diseases Among Nepali Adults

The main aim was to assess Nepali adults' knowledge, health beliefs, and health promoting behaviors regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in five wards of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City. A random sample of 300 Nepali individuals aged 20-65 years completed the heart disease knowledge questionnaire and health beliefs related to cardiovascular diseases. The health belief model related to CVDs was used. Sociodemographic and personal information was collected. Of the adults 45.3% were aged 20-40 years, and 50.7% were male. The male participants smoked and consumed alcohol more than the female participants (p < 0.05). The mean score on the heart disease knowledge questionnaire was 11.8 ± 4.6. Adults between 20 and 40 years age, non smokers, and daily exercisers had greater knowledge on CVDs. The mean score on the four subscales of the health beliefs related to cardiovascular disease scale were as follows: perceived susceptibility (11.5 ± 2.5), perceived severity (12.1 ± 3.5), perceived benefits (20.1 ± 2.9) and perceived barriers (19.4 ± 3.3). Adults performing health promoting activities had better knowledge and greater perceived susceptibility. A simple regression showed knowledge and education were predictors of health promoting activities. Adults who were performing more than two activities for health promotion had better knowledge of CVDs and perceived more susceptibility. Identifying the health needs, understanding cultural beliefs and misconceptions, and adopting health-promoting actions might help to improve the health behavior of Nepali adults.