Purpose

The aim of the study is to investigate and describe the potential risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for wheelchair-dependent people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) living in the Tshwane metropolitan for six months or more after being discharged from rehabilitation centres.

Relevance

Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of the death and disability worldwide, posing a real health risk internationally and in South Africa (WHO, 2011).  The physiological changes caused by SCI and the sedentary lifestyle of people with spinal cord injuries (PWSCI) put them at higher risk of developing NCDs.  The problem of NCDs in PWSCI has not been investigated enough to determine the need for a management programme, including prevention strategies to be put in place.  Hence the need for this survey of NCD risk factors in PWSCI.

Participants

The study population will consist of wheelchair-dependent PWSCI living in the community of Tshwane metropolitan who have been discharged for six months or more from rehabilitation centres.

Methods

An exploratory cross-sectional epidemiological survey will be conducted. The potential risk factors will be determined from demographic information, behavioural, physical and biochemical measurements using the World Health Organisation STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance.

Analysis

Data analysis will employ descriptive and correlation statistics. The prevalence will be determined as the proportion of the sample presenting with risk factors and expressed as a percentage. The association between the outcomes, i.e. a NCD, present/absent, and the main factors will be assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis.  The primary statistics to be reported will be the odds ratios along with 95% confidence intervals. Final testing will be done at the 0.05 level of significance.

Conclusion and Implication

Prevention is the key in the management of NDCs and early identification of potential risk factors will contribute towards preventing PWSCI from getting the NCDs.  This study will add to the knowledge base from which further research questions can be asked and additional studies can be conducted.