Sedentary Lifestyle and Hypertension in a Periurban Area of Mbarara, South Western Uganda: A Population Based Cross Sectional Survey

Introduction. Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes constitute over 50% of the noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden and projections indicate Sub-Saharan Africa will experience a larger burden. Urbanization on the continent is contributing to the change in lifestyle such as diet and physical activity, which may increase the risk for CVDs. There is lack of sufficient data from the African continent on hypertension and its association with sedentary lifestyle. Methods. We conducted a cross sectional study in periurban Uganda among adults aged at least 35 years. We administered questions on diet, physical activity, and smoking. We took anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP>=140 and/or diastolic BP>=90 and/or history of hypertension medications. Logistic regression was used to determine the crude and adjusted odds ratios for the factors associated with hypertension. Results. We enrolled 310 participants and 50% were female. The prevalence of systolic hypertension was 24.5%, diastolic hypertension was 31%, obesity was 46%, and diabetes was 9%. Of those with hypertension (n=76), 53 participants (69.7%) were not aware they had high BP. Sedentary lifestyle was significantly associated with hypertension even after adjusting for age and obesity. Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes and majority of participants with hypertension are not aware. Participants with a sedentary work style should be targeted for prevention and screening.

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Diabetes mellitus among patients attending TB clinics in Dar es Salaam: a descriptive cross-sectional study

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-019-4539-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Patricia J. Munseri ◽

Henrika Kimambo ◽

Kisali Pallangyo

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Family History Of Diabetes ◽

History Of ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background A bi-directional interaction between diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis is well established and has been likened to that between HIV and TB. Whereas HIV screening is standard of care test in sub Saharan Africa TB programs, the same is not true for diabetes mellitus (DM). Sub Saharan Africa, a region with high TB infection rates, is going through an epidemiological transition with rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes. We aimed at characterizing TB patients with DM in order to identify factors associated with TB-DM dual disease among patients attending TB clinics in Dar es Salaam. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2016 and January 2017 among patients attending TB clinics in Dar es Salaam. We collected socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and screened for diabetes by measuring fasting blood glucose that was followed by a 2 h postprandial glucose for participants with impaired fasting blood glucose. We examined for socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with diabetes using logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 660 enrolled participants with TB, 25 (3.8%) were on treatment for diabetes while 39 (6.1%) and 147 (23%) of the remaining 635 participants were ultimately diagnosed with DM and impaired fasting blood glucose respectively. The overall prevalence of DM was 9.7% (64/660). Independent risk factors for diabetes included: age > 44 years {OR 4.52, 95% CI: [1.28–15.89]}; family history of diabetes {OR 3.42, 95% [CI 1.88–6.21]}. HIV sero-positive TB patients were less likely to have DM compared to those who were HIV sero-negative {OR 0.35, 95% CI [0.17–0.73]}. Conclusions Screening for diabetes should be advocated for TB patients aged above 44 years and/or with a family history of diabetes. HIV sero-negative TB patients were more likely to have DM compared to those who were HIV sero-positive. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation and the underlying factors.

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Associations of malaria, HIV, and coinfection, with anemia in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a population-based cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-020-03064-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Paddy Ssentongo ◽

Djibril M. Ba ◽

Anna E. Ssentongo ◽

Jessica E. Ericson ◽

Ming Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Anemia In Pregnancy ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

In Pregnancy

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Interaction of diabetes and smoking on stroke: A population-based cross-sectional survey in China

10.1101/277293 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Heqing Lou ◽

Zongmei Dong ◽

Pan Zhang ◽

Xiaoping Shao ◽

Ting Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cluster Method ◽

Sample Population ◽

List Type ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectivesDiabetes and smoking are known independent risk factors for stroke; however, their interaction concerning stroke is less clear. We aimed to explore such interaction and its influence on stroke in Chinese adults.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingCommunity-based investigation in Xuzhou, China.ParticipantsA total of 39,887 Chinese adults who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included.MethodsParticipants were selected using a multi-stage stratified cluster method, and completed self-reported questionnaires on stroke and smoking. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) was assessed by fasting blood glucose or use of antidiabetic medication. Interaction, relative excess risk owing to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (S) were evaluated using a logistic regression model.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, sex, marital status, educational level, occupation, physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, family history of stroke, alcohol use, and blood lipids, the relationships between DM2 and stroke, and between smoking and stroke, were still significant: odds ratios were 2.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.03–3.73) and 1.70 (95% CI: 1.38–2.10), respectively. In subjects with DM2 who smoked, the RERI, AP, and S values (and 95% CIs) were 1.80 (1.24–3.83), 0.52 (0.37–0.73), and 1.50 (1.18–1.84), respectively.ConclusionsThe results suggest there are additive interactions between DM2 and smoking and that these affect stroke in Chinese adults.Article Summary: Strengths and limitations of this studyThe strengths of this study were that a large sample population was randomly selected from the general population of Xuzhou and many confounding risk factors were adjusted for.Owing to the cross-sectional design, we could not determine a causal combined relationship among diabetes, smoking and stroke.We were not able to control for some important and well-known risk factors of diabetes, such as heart rate and cardiovascular causes.We did not measure fresh fruit consumption, which is causally related to stroke.

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Suicidal ideation and associated factors among school-going adolescents in rural Ghana

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-01378-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽

Samuel Kofi Odame

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Adolescents ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural Ghana ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractSuicidal ideation is a critical risk for attempted suicide and eventual suicide. Little is known about suicidal ideation among rural adolescents in most sub-Saharan African countries. We aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and to describe some of the common and gender-specific associated factors among in-school adolescents in rural Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 1101 in-school adolescents aged 10–19 years in a rural district in Eastern Ghana. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised was used to assess suicidal ideation. Overall, 25.1% participants (95% CI = 22.5–27.7), representing 28.3% females (95% CI = 24.7–32.2) and 21.5% males (95% CI = 18.0–25.2) reported suicidal ideation during the previous 12 months. Females who experienced personal and interpersonal adversities mainly outside the family context were likely to report suicidal ideation, while suicidal ideation among males was associated with conflict with parents. Regardless of gender, adolescents who reported exposure to a friend’s attempted suicide were about two times more likely to report suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adolescents in rural Ghana compares with in-school estimates from other countries within sub-Saharan Africa, but also underscores the need for targeted and universal prevention programmes and intervention efforts to mitigate the potential transition from suicidal ideations to suicidal attempts and eventual deaths by suicide among rural adolescents.

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Maternal healthcare utilsation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study of 29 nationally representative surveys

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e045992

Author(s):

Eugene Budu ◽

Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽

Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽

Ebenezer Kwesi Armah-Ansah ◽

Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Utilisation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Childhood Vaccination ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Maternal Healthcare ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sub Saharan

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the association between maternal healthcare utilisation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignOur study was a cross-sectional study that used pooled data from 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsA total of 60 964 mothers of children aged 11–23 months were included in the study.Outcome variablesThe main outcome variable was complete childhood vaccination. The explanatory variables were number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, assistance during delivery and postnatal care (PNC).ResultsThe average prevalence of complete childhood vaccination was 85.6%, ranging from 67.0% in Ethiopia to 98.5% in Namibia. Our adjusted model, children whose mothers had a maximum of three ANC visits were 56% less likely to have complete vaccination, compared with those who had at least four ANC visits (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.46). Children whose mothers were assisted by traditional birth attendant/other (aOR=0.43, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56) had lower odds of complete vaccination. The odds of complete vaccination were lower among children whose mothers did not attend PNC clinics (aOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.29) as against those whose mothers attended.ConclusionThe study found significant variations in complete childhood vaccination across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal healthcare utilisation (ANC visits, skilled birth delivery, PNC attendance) had significant association with complete childhood vaccination. These findings suggest that programmes, interventions and strategies aimed at improving vaccination should incorporate interventions that can enhance maternal healthcare utilisation. Such interventions can include education and sensitisation, reducing cost of maternal healthcare and encouraging male involvement in maternal healthcare service utilisation.

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Unravelling the Perspectives of Day and Night Traders in Selected Markets within a Sub-Saharan African City with a Malaria Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073468 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3468

Author(s):

Patience B. Tetteh-Quarcoo ◽

Nicholas T. K. D. Dayie ◽

Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu ◽

John Ahenkorah ◽

Emmanuel Afutu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malaria Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African City ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Treatment Type ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Knowledge ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Malaria is still endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high disease burden. Misconceptions about malaria contribute to poor attitudes and practices, further increasing the burden in endemic countries. Studies have examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of malaria among different populations. However, there seems to be no available literature reporting on the perspectives of day and night market traders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on malaria KAP with a focus on day and night market traders. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving day and night market traders in 10 selected markets within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana was carried out. Data were collected from consenting respondents using a structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 760 respondents (33.3% (n = 253) night and 66.7% (n = 507) day traders) interviewed, there was no significant difference between the day and night market traders in terms of malaria KAP. Although the market traders had an overall moderate knowledge (54.0% of the day traders and 56.5% of the night traders), misconceptions about malaria (especially that it could be caused by exposure to the sun) still existed among the traders. Moreover, the majority of the traders who demonstrated high knowledge (43.98%, n = 250) did not always take laboratory tests to confirm their suspicion, indicating poor attitude. Furthermore, the market traders’ choice of drug for malaria treatment (p = 0.001) and preferred malaria treatment type (orthodox or herbal) (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with their knowledge level. Conclusions: Despite the observation that no significant difference in KAP exists between day and night market traders, appropriate health education programs and interventions still need to be directed at misconceptions, poor attitudes, and poor practices revealed by this study. This will ultimately help in the prevention and control of malaria in Ghana, and globally.

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Starchy Vegetables and Metabolic Syndrome in Costa Rica

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051639 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1639

Author(s):

Zhongyao Li ◽

Dongqing Wang ◽

Edward A. Ruiz-Narváez ◽

Karen E. Peterson ◽

Hannia Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Regression Models ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Least Square ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional

Only a few studies primarily examined the associations between starchy vegetables (other than potatoes) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to evaluate the association between starchy vegetables consumption and MetS in a population-based sample of Costa Rican adults. We hypothesized that a higher overall intake of starchy vegetables would not be associated with higher MetS prevalence. In this cross-sectional study, log-binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) of MetS across quintiles of total, unhealthy, healthy starchy vegetables, and individual starchy vegetables (potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, etc.), among 1881 Costa Rican adults. Least square means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from linear regression models were estimated for each MetS component by categories of starchy vegetable variables. Higher intakes of starchy vegetables were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS in crude models, but no significant trends were observed after adjusting for confounders. A significant inverse association was observed between total starchy and healthy starchy vegetables consumption and fasting blood glucose. In this population, starchy vegetables might be part of a healthy dietary pattern.

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Gender-specific physical activity-related injuries and risk factors among university students in China: a multicentre population-based cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e040865

Author(s):

Weicong Cai ◽

Shangmin Chen ◽

Liping Li ◽

Pengying Yue ◽

Xiaofan Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

University Students ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Chinese University ◽

Gender Specific

ObjectivesData on the problem of physical activity-related injury (PARI) in university students and the risk factors for PARI among different genders are rare. We conducted a multicentre population-based study to investigate the occurrence of PARI and to explore the gender-specific risk factors for PARI among Chinese university students.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 5341 students in grades 1–3 at eight universities in four Chinese cities were selected to complete the online questionnaires during March and April 2017. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity PA) involvement, sleep duration, sedentary behaviour and PARI experiences in the past 12 months.Main outcome measuresPARI during the past 12 months.ResultsAmong the 5341 participants, 1293 suffered from at least one PARI in the past 12 months, with an overall incidence rate of 24.2% (males: 26.2%, females: 23.2%) and an injury risk of 0.38 injuries/student/year (males: 0.48, females: 0.32). Over half of the injured (57.3%) experienced a withdrawal time of PA and nearly two-fifths (39.6%) required medical attention. Irrespective of gender, Shantou and Xi’an students, sports team members and those who engaged in sports and leisure-time vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) at a higher frequency were more likely to suffer from PARI. Male students who participated in sports and leisure-time VPA for long durations had a greater likelihood of sustaining PARI, while having a chronic condition and being involved in sports and leisure-time moderate-intensity PA at a higher frequency and longer duration were potential contributors to PARI among females.ConclusionsThe occurrence of PARI and its risk factors differed by gender, which provides a direction towards developing targeted and effective gender-specific preventative programmes to protect Chinese university students from PARI.

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