[Nutrition transition, prevalence of double burden of malnutrition and cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population living in the island of Anjouan, Comoros]

Trends in bio-behavioural risk factors of non-communicable diseases among adults in Sao Tome and Principe

Background

Understanding national trends in risk factors of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) may have health policy implications. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and social and demographic factors associated with risk factors of NCDs in adults from 2008 to 2019 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Methods

In repeat cross-sectional national STEPS surveys 2,457 adults (median age 37 years) in 2008 and 1,893 adults (median age 38 years) in 2019 in Sao Tome and Principe responded to structured interviews, physical and biochemical measures. Logistic regressions were applied to estimate predictors of NCD risk factors.

Results

Having three to seven NCD risk factors significantly decreased among men but not women from 36.6% in 2008 to 26.8% in 2019. The proportion of specific risk factors of NCD increased significantly for low physical activity from 17.4% in 2008 to 30.9% in 2019, and overweight/obesity from 37.3% in 2008 to 51.0% in 2019. Insufficient fruit/vegetable consumption decreased from 83.1% in 2008 to 53.3% in 2019, frequent alcohol use from 32.6% in 2008 to 24.8% in 2019, and diabetes from 3.1% in 2008 to 1.2% in 2019, while the proportion of current tobacco use and hypertension remained unchanged from 2008 to 2019. Men engaged more often than women in current tobacco use and frequent alcohol use, and women had higher rates of low physical activity and overweight/obesity than men. Higher educational levels were positively associated with overweight/obesity, and inversely associated with frequent alcohol use and inadequate fruit/vegetable intake.

Conclusion

Between 2008 and 2019, the prevalence of seven risk factors for NCDs in Sao Tome and Principe declined among men, but not among women. Several associated variables have been identified for each individual risk factor of NCD that may help guide interventions.

Behavioural and biological risk factors of non-communicable diseases among adults in Cabo Verde: a repeated cross-sectional study of the 2007 and 2020 national community-based surveys

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to estimate trends in the prevalence and associated factors of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in adults from 2007 to 2020 in Cabo Verde.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Nationally representative samples of adult population in Cabo Verde from the 2007 and 2020 STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) surveys.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 1760 adults in 2007 and 3721 in 2020.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Included fruit/vegetable consumption, low physical activity, sedentary behaviour, current tobacco use, hazardous alcohol use, diabetes, total elevated cholesterol, hypertension and overweight/obesity. Logistic regressions adjusted for sociodemographic factors were applied to estimate predictors of each of the nine NCD risk factors.

RESULTS

Compared with participants in the study year 2007, participants in the study year 2020 had a significantly higher prevalence of low physical activity (adjusted OR (AOR): 2.21, 95% CI: 1.15 to 4.25) and overweight/obesity (AOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.23) and significantly lower rate of hypertension (AOR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.93). Low physical activity (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23 to 2.10), overweight/obesity (AOR: 2.59, 95% CI: 2.10 to 3.20), current tobacco use (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.75), hypertension (AOR: 5.45, 95% CI: 4.24 to 7.00), diabetes (AOR: 8.40, 95% CI: 4.65 to 15.18) and elevated total cholesterol (AOR: 4.58, 95% CI: 2.83 to 7.39) were more common among the 50-64-year-olds. Being male increased the odds of current tobacco use (AOR: 3.64, 95% CI: 2.75 to 4.81) and hazardous alcohol use (AOR: 4.79, 95% CI: 3.15 to 7.27), and decreased the odds of low physical activity (AOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.58) and overweight/obesity (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Of the nine NCD risk factors evaluated from 2007 to 2020 in Cabo Verde, two increased (overweight/obesity and low physical activity) and one decreased (hypertension). Several associated variables were identified for each individual NCD risk factor that can help in guiding interventions.

Smoking cessation interventions in South Asian Region: a systematic scoping review

Background

Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of morbidities and mortalities. Since 2005, the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) provides an efficient strategic plan for tobacco control across the world. Many countries in the world have successfully reduced the prevalence of cigarette smoking. However, in developing countries, the prevalence of cigarette smoking is mounting which signifies a need of prompt attention. This scoping review aims to explore the extent and nature of Smoking Cessation (SmC) interventions and associated factors in South Asian Region (SAR) by systematically reviewing available recently published and unpublished literature.

Methods

The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework frames the conduct of this scoping review.

PubMed, EBSCO CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, and local websites as well as other sources of grey literature were searched for relevant literature. In total, 573 literature sources were screened. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram, finally, 48 data sources were included for data extraction and analysis.

We analyzed the extracted SmC interventions through the FCTC. Factors that affect smoking cessation interventions will be extracted through manual content analysis.

Results

Regarding FCTC recommended smoking cessation strategies (articles), most of the articles were either neglected or addressed in a discordant way by various anti-smoking groups in SAR. Key barriers that hamper the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions included lack of awareness, poor implementation of anti-smoking laws, and socio-cultural acceptance of tobacco use. Conversely, increased levels of awareness, through different mediums, related to smoking harms and benefits of quitting, effective implementation of anti-smoking laws, smoking cessation trained healthcare professionals, support systems, and reluctance in the community to cigarette smoking were identified as facilitators to smoking cessation interventions.

Conclusion

The ignored or uncoordinated FCTC’s directions on smoking cessation strategies have resulted in continued increasing prevalence of cigarette smoking in developing countries, especially SAR. The findings of this review highlight the need for refocusing the smoking cessation strategies in SAR.

Strengths

The review was conducted by a team of expert comprising information specialists, and senior professors bringing rich experience in systematic and scoping reviews. Every effort was made to include all available literature sources addressing cigarette SmC and associated factors in SAR. The review findings signal the need and direction for more SmC efforts in SAR which may contribute to development of effective policies and guidelines for the control of smoking prevalence.

Limitations

Despite efforts, potentially relevant records may have been missed due to unpublished or inaccessible articles, unintended selection bias, or those published in local languages, etc. Moreover, the exclusion of literature on under 18 participants and mentally ill smokers may limit the generalizability of findings.