Prevalence of Risk Factors and Lifestyle Choices Associated with Increased Cancer in Participants from Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The prevalence of risk factors for cancer among demographics, such as age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and diet were explored in a Trinidadian population. This cross-sectional study was conducted with participants aged 18 years and older with no personal history of cancer. An online questionnaire was created using SurveyMonkey software and distributed via social media platforms to invite eligible persons to participate. The data were analyzed, and descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS 27. A total of 478 valid responses were obtained. Females comprised 72% of the study population, while males comprised 28%. Most participants fell within the 35-44 age bracket (106 persons), followed by the 18-24 age group (100 persons). At least 18.83% of the participants were over 55 years old. Regarding ethnicity, the majority of participants were either Afro-Trinidadian (38.70%), Indo-Trinidadian (28.66%), or mixed (25.52%). It was also found that most respondents did not drink or smoke (61.1%), although 3.3% of respondents smoke and 15.7% drink once a week. Of the participants, 63.2% had no dietary restrictions, and less than 20.0% were overweight, consumed fast food, red meats, and smoked foods. The most prevalent risk factors for cancer among this target population were family history, age, diet, and weight. Changes to one’s diet, increased physical activity, and proper weight management can help reduce the risk of developing cancer, as well as secondary risk factors.