Factors Associated with Improved Knowledge of Metabolic Syndrome in Female Market Traders

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered to be a clustering of cardiometabolic diseases and is emerging as a public health concern. There is little evidence of this disease in market traders, and so the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and knowledge of MetS. In this cross-sectional study, anthropometry, blood pressure and bloods were collected using standardized methods to detect the prevalence of MetS using the harmonized method in a cohort of female Ghanaian market traders (n = 338). A questionnaire documented the knowledge of MetS. Linear regression was used to investigate the factors associated with knowledge and was reported as adjusted β values. Forty-two percent (n = 142) had MetS. The overall knowledge of MetS was low, driven by education (β = 0.22, p = 0.0001), low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (β = -0.15, p = 0.018) and affiliation with the Ewe cultural group (β = -0.19, p = 0.0004). As females working in a sedentary occupation, market traders are vulnerable to MetS. Our findings indicate the urgent need for culturally sensitive education to promote healthy behaviours.