article · South Asian Research Journal of Applied Medical Sciences
Periodic medical examinations serve as an important preventive measure for identifying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes early, particularly among adults over forty. A community survey of 420 adults in Apir, North Central Nigeria, evaluated awareness, knowledge, and uptake of these check-ups. Although 82.4 percent of participants were aware of periodic medical examinations and 70 percent demonstrated good knowledge, only 29.5 percent actually underwent them. Awareness of relevant hospital policies was also limited to 57.6 percent. Uptake was significantly linked to socio-economic indicators including education, occupation, and income, as well as an understanding of examination timing. Lifestyle habits, specifically cigarette smoking and adequate sleep, also correlated with attendance. Addressing this gap between knowledge and practice requires targeted public health interventions that combine health education, lifestyle guidance, and financial empowerment to increase routine medical examination rates.
Preventive check-ups allow early management of life-threatening conditions like diabetes and hypertension before severe complications arise. Revealing that high awareness does not translate into regular check-ups helps healthcare leaders understand the socio-economic and behavioural obstacles facing adults in such communities. This evidence supports designing practical initiatives that move beyond basic awareness campaigns to actively improve routine clinical attendance.
The findings can inform public health agencies, private clinic networks, and workplace wellness providers seeking to structure preventative health screening programmes. By identifying specific demographic and lifestyle determinants of clinic attendance, healthcare managers can design targeted, subsidised screening initiatives. Because this research is an observational survey, applied service models based on these insights remain at an early conceptual stage and require piloting to evaluate real-world uptake.
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Periodic Medical Examinations (PMEs) is a preventive healthcare strategy for early detection and management of medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes in order to mitigate potentially fatal outcomes. This is particularly relevant for individuals over 40, where annual PMEs are recommended for optimal health and productivity. A study was conducted in Apir community, Northcentral Nigeria, to investigate factors influencing PME uptake among adult residents. This community-based cross-sectional study, involving 420 participants, utilized questionnaires to assess knowledge, uptake, and associated factors. The study revealed a high level of PME knowledge (70%) and awareness (82.4%), primarily sourced from hospitals. However, awareness of existing PME policies was limited (57.6%), and actual uptake was low, at only 29.5%. Statistically significant associations were found between PME uptake and education level, occupation, and income (p<0.05). Knowledge regarding PME frequency and timing, coupled with awareness of hospital policies, also correlated with uptake (p<0.05). Furthermore, lifestyle factors, including cigarette smoking and sufficient sleep, exhibited significant associations with PME utilization (p<0.05). The conclusion highlights a disparity between PME knowledge and uptake, depicting trends observed in other studies. This underscores the need for targeted interventions. Government and stakeholders should leverage on these findings to develop policies promoting health education, lifestyle modifications, and financial empowerment, ultimately aiming to improve PME uptake and public health outcomes.
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DOI: 10.36346/sarjams.2025.v07i02.002
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