Arthritis Risk Factors among Adults in Tombe Location, Nyamira County, Kenya; a Community-Based Study
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Date
2025-05
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Arthritis is a significant global health problem, with osteoarthritis being the most
common type worldwide. The increasing prevalence of arthritis leads to substantial
societal and personal costs. In Nyamira County, Arthritis is the second of morbidity as
per the county integrated development plan 2018-2022. This study therefore, aimed
assess arthritis risk factors among adults in Tombe Location, Nyamira County, Kenya.
The specific objectives included: to establish the prevalence of arthritis among adults
in Tombe location, Nyamira County, Kenya, to assess the risk factors associated with
arthritis among adults in Tombe location, Nyamira County, Kenya, and to determine
the association between level of knowledge and arthritis among adults in Tombe
location, Nyamira County, Kenya. A cross-sectional research technique with multistage
random sampling was used to select the study area through random balloting. Simple
random sampling was used to select participants above 40 years from the selected
households in the two sub-locations in Tombe location. Inclusion criteria was for those
above 40 years who were willing to be part of the study. Those mental ill were excluded
from the study. Data was collected used a structured interviewer based questionnaire.
A self-reported doctor diagnosis and symptom-based screening criterion were used to
identify participants with arthritis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the
data analysis. The level of significance for this study was set at 95% confidence level
with variables having a p value of ≤ 0.05 being considered significant. Ethical clearance
and other approvals were obtained from relevant authorities. A total of 307 participants
from 258 households were included in this study. The prevalence of arthritis was
44.6%. Knee arthritis was the most common type (76.0%). Among the participants with
arthritis, 88.3% experienced activity limitation. Joint injury/infection [AOR=2.74; 95%
CI=1.59-4.77; p<0.01)], being unemployed [AOR=2.77; 95% CI=1.50-5.21; p = 0.00],
staying in a town center [AOR=2.02; 95% CI=1.08-3.83; p=0.03), age 51+ years, and
hypertension [AOR=1.90; 95% CI=1.03-3.53; p=0.04] were associated with an
increased risk of developing arthritis. Conversely, being male [AOR=0.42; 95% CI
0.23-0.75; p=0.01], standing for > 2 hours [AOR=0.48; 95% CI 0.29-0.81; p=0.01)],
and constant shifting from sit to stand positions [AOR=0.45; 95% CI=0.26-0.76;
p<0.01)] were correlated with a lower risk of arthritis. The level of knowledge of
arthritis was 71.8%. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the estimated median age
for having arthritis in this population was about 67 years, with females having a shorter
median age of 63 years compared to 75 years in males. In conclusion, residents in this
study area experienced a high rate of arthritis. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk
factors were found to be statistically significant thus the need to address them to avoid
further disability at the community level. This is despite there being a high level of
knowledge. Further study is need to address differences in arthritis and its impact, with
adequate control of confounders, and assess multiple arthritis risk factors.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Disease Control) in the School of Public Health of Kenyatta University May 2025
Supervisors;
1. Kimani Harun
2. Ogweno Gordon