Cross-sectional KAP study on non-communicable diseases among N=184 medical students at the University of Gezira, Sudan (2026); chi-square, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression using IBM SPSS v26.
# NCD Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Medical Students — University of Gezira
## Gezira State, Sudan – 2026
**Study type:** Cross-sectional, institution-based descriptive study
**Degree level:** Clinical Master Degree in Family Medicine (Sudan Medical Specializations Board)
**Institution:** Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Wad Madani, Gezira State
**Sample size:** N = 184 undergraduate medical students (Batches 44 & 45)
**Data analyst:** Abdulrahman Sirelkhatim
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## Background
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — principally cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus,
chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers — account for approximately 41 million deaths
annually, representing 74% of all global mortality. In Sudan, roughly 24% of total deaths
are attributable to NCDs, a burden compounded by urbanization, unhealthy dietary patterns,
physical inactivity, and severely limited preventive healthcare infrastructure.
Medical students are the next generation of clinicians, health educators, and public health
advocates. Their knowledge of NCD risk factors, attitudes toward prevention, and personal
preventive behaviors have direct implications for how they will counsel patients and
communities throughout their careers. A well-documented gap exists between theoretical
knowledge and actual health behavior in this population — students frequently demonstrate
high awareness while practicing fewer preventive behaviors themselves.
The University of Gezira is one of Sudan's largest public universities, with a
community-oriented medical curriculum and a student population drawn from both urban and
rural Gezira State. Despite the increasing NCD burden nationally, no published study had
previously characterized NCD knowledge, attitudes, and practices specifically among its
medical students. This study provides that baseline.
## Objectives
- Evaluate the level of awareness of common NCDs (hypertension, diabetes mellitus,
cardiovascular diseases, and chro …