Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Determinants Associated With Women Cardiovascular Health in Thika And Kiambu Level Five Hospitals in Kiambu, Kenya.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with sociodemographic, psychosocial, and socioeconomic risks often under-recognized, particularly among women. In 2019, 35% of all deaths in women were due to cardiovascular disease. In Kenya, cardiovascular disease is a significant public health issue, with women being disproportionately affected due to unique risk factors and limited healthcare access. This study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic and psychosocial risks associated with cardiovascular health among women in Kiambu, Kenya. The study utilized cross-sectional design and was conducted at Kiambu and Thika Level 5 hospitals. The target population comprised female patients aged 18 years and above residing in Kiambu County. A total of 400 women were included in the sample, determined based on the prevalence rates reported by Wamai et al. (2015) using the formula by William G. Cochran. Participants were selected through random sampling. Data was collected after receiving approval from Kenya Methodist University, NACOSTI, and the Kiambu County Government Department of Health. Data collected was cleaned and coded using Excel. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 27. The results were presented in tables, percentages, and graphical form. Cross-tabulation, as well as linear and logistic regression analyses, was conducted to examine the relationship between predictors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnoses. The sociodemographic analysis of the study revealed that individuals aged 19-43 years had a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD), with a prevalence rate of 19.5%. Hypertension was present in 31.3% of participants, with 33.5% reported having diabetes. Psychosocial factors indicated that 13.8% of participants were diagnosed with depression, and 31.5% experienced high stress levels. Dietary patterns showed 24% consumption of refined and 21% of fried foods. Furthermore, 27.5% of participants were unaware of CVD, and 29.8% had not received nutritional education, as revealed through cross tabulation with CVD diagnoses. The logistic regression model for sociodemographic factors showed a good fit (-2 Log-likelihood = 512.206), explaining 9.2% to 12.3% of the variance. Psychological factors exhibited similar results, with 8.8% to 11.8% variance explained. Dietary habits had positive correlation with cardiovascular disease (R=0.243), while health literacy showed a weak positive correlation (R=0.150). Clinical factors, including diabetes, BMI, and hypertension, had a strong positive correlation (R=0.811), explaining 65.8% of the variability. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant role of psychosocial, sociodemographic and clinical factors in predicting cardiovascular disease, suggesting that public health interventions should prioritize these areas to improve women's cardiovascular health in Kiambu.