Regional Variation and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Obesity Prevalence Among Non-pregnant Women in Chad: Evidence From Three Waves of Chad Demographic and Health Surveys
Abstract Background: While the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, the growing rates of overweight and obesity in developing countries are alarming. Obesity is widely recognized as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence on whether obesity has been more prevalent among higher or lower socioeconomic groups, across regions and urban-rural women’s are inconsistent. This study examined socioeconomic, urban-rural and sub-national regional inequalities in obesity among non-pregnant women in Chad.Method: Using cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from Chad conducted between 1996 and 2014, we used the World Health Organization Health Equity Assessment Toolkit to analyze the socio-economic and regional inequalities in obesity prevalence among non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years. Inequalities are assessed using socioeconomic and demographic indicators such as wealth index, education level and place of residence. We presented inequalities using both simple and complex summary measures, namely Difference (D), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Ratio (R).Results: Though constant pattern overtime, both wealth-driven and place of residence inequality were observed in all three surveys by Difference measure and in the first and last surveys by Ratio measure. Similarly, including the recent survey (D=-2.80%, 95% CI:-4.15, -1.45, R= 0.37%, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.50) absolute (in 1996 & 2014 survey) and relative (in all three surveys) educational status inequality with constant pattern were observed. Substantial absolute (PAR=-2.2%, 95% CI: -3.21, -1.34) and relative (PAF= -91.9%, 95% CI: -129.58, -54.29) regional inequality was observed with increasing and constant pattern by simple (D) and complex (PAR, PAF) measures. Conclusion: Both socioeconomic and area-based obesity inequalities disfavoring women in the higher socioeconomic status and residing in urban areas. Prevention of obesity prevalence should be government and stakeholders’ priority through organizing the evidence, health promotion and prevention interventions for at risk population and general population.