scholarly journals Spatial Co-Clustering of Cardiovascular Diseases and Select Risk Factors among Adults in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3583
Author(s):  
Timotheus B. Darikwa ◽  
Samuel O. Manda
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
High Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Cold Spots ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are part of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries, including South Africa, where they are a major public health issue. Understanding the joint spatial clustering of CVDs and associated risk factors to determine areas in need of enhanced integrated interventions would help develop targeted, cost-effective and productive mediations. We estimated joint spatial associations and clustering patterns of 2 CVDs (stroke and heart attack) and 3 risk factors (hypertension, high blood cholesterol (HBC) and smoking) among adults in South Africa. Methods: We used cross-sectional secondary adult (15–64-year olds) health data from the South African Demographic Health Survey 2016. Age and gender standardized disease incidence ratios were analyzed using joint spatial global and local bivariate Moran’s Index statistics. Results: We found significantly positive univariate spatial clustering for stroke (Moran; s Index = 0.128), smoking (0.606) hypertension (0.236) and high blood cholesterol (0.385). Smoking and high blood cholesterol (0.366), smoking and stroke (0.218) and stroke and high blood cholesterol (0.184) were the only bivariate outcomes with significant bivariate clustering. There was a joint stroke-smoking local “hot spots” cluster among four districts in the urban western part of the country (City of Cape Town; Cape Winelands; Overberg and Eden) and a joint “cold spots” cluster in the rural north-western part of the country. Similar joint “hot spots” clustering was found for stroke and high blood cholesterol, which also had “cold spots” cluster in the rural east-central part of the country. Smoking and high blood cholesterol had a “hot spots” cluster among five districts in the urban western part of the country (City of Cape Town; Cape Winelands; Overberg; Eden, and West Coast) and “cold spots” around the rural districts in east-southern parts of the country. Conclusions: Our study showed that districts tended to co-cluster based on the rates of CVDs and risk factors, where higher rates were found in urban places than in rural areas. These findings are suggestive of a more contagious and spatial diffusion process among interdependent districts in urban districts. Urbanization or rurality needs to be considered when intervention initiatives are implemented with more general approaches in rural areas. The finding of “hot spot” co-clusters in urban areas means that integrated intervention programmes aimed at reducing the risk of CVDs and associated risk factors would be cost-effective and more productive.

scholarly journals Spatial Analysis of HIV Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Botswana

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3424
Author(s):  
Malebogo Solomon ◽  
Luis Furuya-Kanamori ◽  
Kinley Wangdi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Scan Statistics ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Botswana has the third highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence globally, and the severity of the epidemic within the country varies considerably between the districts. This study aimed to identify clusters of HIV and associated factors among adults in Botswana. Data from the Botswana Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Impact Survey IV (BIAS IV), a nationally representative household-based survey, were used for this study. Multivariable logistic regression and Kulldorf’s scan statistics were used to identify the risk factors and HIV clusters. Socio-demographic characteristics were compared within and outside the clusters. HIV prevalence among the study participants was 25.1% (95% CI 23.3–26.4). HIV infection was significantly higher among the female gender, those older than 24 years and those reporting the use of condoms, while tertiary education had a protective effect. Two significant HIV clusters were identified, one located between Selibe-Phikwe and Francistown and another in the Central Mahalapye district. Clusters had higher levels of unemployment, less people with tertiary education and more people residing in rural areas compared to regions outside the clusters. Our study identified high-risk populations and regions with a high burden of HIV infection in Botswana. This calls for focused innovative and cost-effective HIV interventions on these vulnerable populations and regions to curb the HIV epidemic in Botswana.

scholarly journals Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among School-going Children of Age 1-5 years in Dharan, Eastern Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
pp. 26-35
Author(s):  
Dhiren Subba Limbu ◽  
Samana Shrestha ◽  
Kamana Bantawa ◽  
Ramesh Majhi ◽  
Milan Kharel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Plastic Container ◽  
Intestinal Parasitic Infections ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

 Intestinal parasitic infections have been a major public health burden of developing countries, especially in children. Higher prevalence has been reported among school children, mostly in rural areas of Nepal where water, toilets, hygiene, and sanitation facilities are insufficient. This cross-sectional study was carried out from April to September 2019 to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school-going children1-5 years of Dharan, Nepal, and to assess the associated risk factors. Stool samples were collected in a clean, dry, screw-capped, and wide-mouthed plastic container, kept in an icebox, and transported to the laboratory. Data relating to different risk factors were collected from the parents of 116 participants using a structured questionnaire. The parasites were identified by using the direct wet mount method and formal-ether concentration method. Pearson’s chi-square test was carried out to establish associations between dependent and independent variables using SPSS version 20, and the test considered a greater than < 0.05% as statistically significant with a 95% confidence level. Out of the 116 stool samples, 9 (7.75%) tested positive for the parasitic infections in which 5 (55.5%) were protozoa and 4 (44.45%) were helminths. The prevalent parasites, were Entamoeba histolytica (23%), Hyamenolepis nana (22%), Giardia lamblia (11%), Hookworm (11%), Entamoeba coli (11%), Ascaris lumbricoides (11%), and Intestinal parasitic infections had a significant association with drinking water, bowel syndrome, bathing habit, toilet facility, and washing hands after toilets (p<0.05). Lack of toilets, poor hygiene, and unsafe drinking water were the main risk factors. Improved hygienic practices, safe drinking water, and the use of latrines could lower the rate of parasitic infections.

scholarly journals Incidence and Risk Factors of Illnesses Presumably Caused by A SARS-CoV-2 Infection in The General Population During The Lockdown Period: A Multi-Cohort Study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Carrat ◽  
Mathilde Touvier ◽  
Gianluca Severi ◽  
Laurence Meyer ◽  
Florence Jusot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
General Population ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
Obese People ◽  
Cox Models ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Abstract Background Our main objectives were to estimate the incidence of illnesses presumably caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the lockdown period and to identify the associated risk factors.Methods Participants from 3 adult cohorts in the general population in France were invited to participate in a survey on COVID-19. The main outcome was possible COVID-19, defined as a sudden onset of cough, fever, dyspnea, ageusia and/or anosmia, that lasted more than 3 days and occurred during the 17 days before the survey. We used delayed-entry Cox models to identify associated factors.Results Between April 2, 2020 and May 12, 2020, 279,478 participants were invited, 116,903 validated the questionnaire and 106,848 were included in the analysis. Three thousand thirty-five cases of possible COVID-19 were reported during 62,099 person-months of follow-up. The cumulative incidences of possible COVID-19 were 6.2% (95% Confidence Interval (95%CI): 5.7%; 6.6%) on day 15 and 8.8% (95%CI 8.3%; 9.2%) on day 45 of lockdown. The risk of possible COVID-19 was lower in older age groups and higher in French regions with a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, in participants living in cities >100,000 inhabitants (vs rural areas), when at least one child or adolescent was living in the same household, in overweight or obese people, and in people with chronic respiratory diseases, anxiety or depression or chronic diseases other than diabetes, cancer, hypertension or cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion The incidence of possible COVID-19 in the general population remained high during the first two weeks of lockdown, and decreased significantly thereafter. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors were identified.

scholarly journals The burden of disease preventable by risk factor reduction in Serbia

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Sipetic ◽  
Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic ◽  
Hristina Vlajinac ◽  
Jelena Marinkovic ◽  
Slavenka Jankovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Fruit And Vegetables ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Years Of Life Lost ◽  
High Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Avoidable Risk

Background/Aim. Reliable and comparable analysis of health risks is an important component of evidence-based and preventive programs. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the most relevant avoidable risk factors on the burden of the selected conditions in Serbia. Methods. Attributable fractions were calculated from the survey information on the prevalence of a risk factor and the relative risk of dying if exposed to a risk factor. The population-attributable risks were applied to deaths, years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years of life with disability (YLD) and disability adjusted life years (DALY). Results. More than 40% of all deaths and of the total YLL are attributable to cigarette smoking, overweight, physical inactivity, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, hypertension and high blood cholesterol. Alcohol consumption has in total a beneficial effect. According to the percent of DALY for the selected conditions attributable to the observed risk factors, their most harmful effects are as follows: alcohol consumption on road traffic accidents; cigarette smoking on lung cancer; physical inactivity on cerebrovascular disease (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and colorectal cancer; overweight on type 2 diabetes; hypertension on renal failure and CVD; inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables on IHD and CVD, and high blood cholesterol on IHD. Conclusions. This study shows that a high percentage of disease and injury burden in Serbia is attributable to avoidable risk factors, which emphasizes the need for improvement of relevant preventive strategies and programs at both individual and population levels. Social preferences should be determined for a comprehensive set of conditions and cost effectiveness analyses of potential interventions should be carried out. Furthermore, positive measures, derived from health, disability and quality of life surveys, should be included.

scholarly journals Epidemiological Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Risk Factors in Ruminant Species of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Abid Ali ◽  
Talha Omer ◽  
Asad Ullah ◽  
Abdul Haleem ◽  
Maryam Naseem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Toxoplasma Infection ◽  
Ruminant Species ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Toxoplasma infection is one of the most common human parasitic diseases. During 2018-2020, in the rural areas of three districts of Pakistan, we surveyed a total of 451 animals, belonging to different asymptomatic ruminant species, to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. We used ELISA assay as well as recorded some associated risk factors contributing to its transmission. IgM antibodies were detected in 17% and IgG in 13.4% of ruminant samples with the highest percentage, 10% for IgM and 8.6% for IgG in sheep. A strong significant association was found between antibodies and different species (IgM, χ 2 = 29 .280, P = .000 , and IgG, χ 2 = 22.580 , P = .000 ), respectively. Infection with T. gondii seems mainly associated with different geographic features and the presence of cats in the environment, low hygiene water systems and livestock that are mostly dependent on outdoor drinking and grazing. There was no significant association between IgM and age grouping ( χ 2 = 6.660 , P = 0.840 nor for IgG ( χ 2 = 8.136 , P = 0.43 ). The results of this study may be considered the starting point to promote the awareness about parasitic infections in ruminants in Pakistan in order to prevent this infection from further spreading.

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated risk factor of hypertension among individuals of age 18-59 years in South-eastern Nepal: A cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prajjwal Pyakurel ◽  
Deepak Kumar Yadav ◽  
Jeevan Thapa ◽  
Nishant Thakur ◽  
Pramita Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Anthropometric Measurement ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Background: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in developing region. It has also been recognized as one of the major public health problems in the developing countries since the early seventies and the rate is increasing not only in urban areas but in rural areas with low socio-economic condition.  Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Jogidaha Village Development Comittee(VDC) and Triyuga Municipality of Udaypur district of South-Eastern Nepal. A total of 430 participants of age 18-59 years were selected. Semi-structured questionnaire (WHO NCD STEPS instrument) was used to collect information on demographic variables and associated risk factors with use of show cards. Clinical and anthropometric measurement were done. Primary outcome was prevalence of hypertension. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed to show strength of association among various risk factors with hypertension.  Results: The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 25.1%. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 49.8%. Hypertension was significantly associated with age (AOR=1.09, CI=1.05-1.10) and gender (male >female; AOR= 2.12,CI =1.22-3.68). Similarly, increased waist-hip ratio(7.12; CI 2.87-17.67),alcohol consumption(OR=2.82,CI=1.77-4.52), and use of tobacco products (OR =1.8,CI=1.02-3.20) showed significant association with hypertension. Conclusion: There is high prevalence of hypertension in rural districts of South-Eastern Nepal. A community-based preventive approach with early detection and treatment and life-style modification is needed to reduce the burden of disease and make sustainable changes. 

scholarly journals Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Rural Population of the Northern Part of the Persian Gulf

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Marzban ◽  
Mohammadreza Kalantarhormozi ◽  
Mehdi Mahmudpour ◽  
Afshin Ostovar ◽  
Saeed Keshmiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Persian Gulf ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Persian Gulf ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Abstract Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency has been increased globally since the last two decades. However, the majority of these studies concerned on cities and there is scant information regarding the prevalence of vitamin D in rural areas. The main aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated risk factors among rural population in Bushehr province which has the longest border with the Persian Gulf.Methods: The rural inhabitants with ≥25 years old from three mountainous, plain, and seashore areas of Bushehr province were selected through a stratified multi-cluster random sampling method. After obtaining the participants’ demographic and anthropometric data and their past medical history, serum 25- hydroxy vitamin D was measured using ELISA.Results: A total of 1806 (means±SD, 46.30± 14.22 years old) rural subjects (34.84% males and 64.88%) participated in this study. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency were 27.87%, 50.39% and 21.74%, respectively. The deficiency of vitamin D in women was higher than men (OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.54, P=0.040). There was a positive significant correlation between age and serum vitamin D levels. Men with vitamin D deficiency had higher BMI (P=0.008); this association was not observed among women (P=0.74). There was no significant difference between the food items consumption frequencies, and vitamin D status (P>0.05). The mountainous, and plain areas had the highest and lowest vitamin D levels, respectively.Conclusion: Although, Bushehr province is located in a sunny part of Iran, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high among its rural population. The shift of their life styles patterns and rapid industrialization in these rural areas may be responsible. Therefore, the enrichment of dietary sources with vitamin D and the use of vitamin D supplements are recommended to tackle the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the rural population of the northern part of the Persian Gulf.

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