Assess the prevalence of common risk factors for non communicable diseases among primary school teachers

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of deaths globally, killing more people each year than all other causes combined. Contrary to popular opinion, available data demonstrate that nearly 80% of NCD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Low level of physical activities (PA), unhealthy dietary pattern and occupational stress are common among school teachers. Aim of proposed study is to assess the prevalence of common risk factors for NCDs among primary school teachers and applying and reducing the risk factors through a health promotion intervention program. This randomized control trial will be carried out in primary school teachers who are employed in Southwestern Province in Iran , stratified cluster sampling techniques and probability proportionate to the size will be performed to recruit representative sample from each district in Southwestern province as well as each type of schools. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), Job stress questionnaire will be used to collect the behavioral risk factor among the subjects. General information questionnaire will be used to collect the demographical data. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome will be described using standard protocols. Life style intervention program will be delivered to the subjects who are living with risk factors, “intervention” and “control” will be selected through cluster randomization. Intervention group will be given the lifestyle intervention which aims to reduce the unhealthy dietary pattern, low level PA and occupational stress. Following 12 months intervention, post evaluation will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of the intervention program. Proposed study will reveal the prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome (MS), diabetes, risk of CVD, low level PA and dietary pattern among primary school teachers. And also relationship between each risk factor will be determined. Primary outcome of the study will be the difference of overweight ((BMI 23 Kgm-2) over 12 months of time period. Secondary outcomes will be self-reported occupational stress, MET-Minute values on PA, carbohydrate and fat consumption, hypertension and MS over the 12 month compared to the control. The proposed study will be able address all the risk factors for NCDs and can be used as a module to reduce the occupational stress, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy dietary pattern among primary school teachers.