Gender differences in nutritional status, diet and physical activity among adolescents in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in nutritional status, dietary intake, physical activity and hand hygiene among adolescents from diverse geographical settings in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: This study utilised cross-sectional data from six countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda) within the ARISE Adolescent Health Survey (n = 7625). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured heights and weights, and z-scores were calculated based on the 2007 WHO growth standards for age and sex. Information on demographics, diet and health behaviours was collected through face-to-face interviews using a standardised questionnaire. Site-specific and pooled prevalence ratios were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of underweight, overweight and stunting pooled across sites was 14.3%, 6.8% and 18.1%, respectively. Female sex was associated with a lower risk of being underweight (pooled prevalence ratio 0.66, 95% 0.57, 0.77) and stunted (pooled PR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55, 0.71), but a higher risk of being overweight (pooled PR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26, 2.06). Females were also less likely to exercise for 1 h or more per day (pooled PR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67, 0.88), and more likely to wash hands after using toilets or latrines and to wash hands with soap (pooled PRs 1.13, 95% CI 1.05, 1.21 and 1.35, 95% CI 1.23, 1.45, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results emphasise that sex is a key predictor of nutritional status among sub-Saharan African adolescents and suggest that gender-specific interventions may be required to reduce the double burden of under- and overnutrition.

OBJECTIF: L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer les différences entre les sexes en matière d'état nutritionnel, d'apport alimentaire, d'activité physique et d'hygiène des mains chez les adolescents de divers contextes géographiques en Afrique subsaharienne. MÉTHODES: Cette étude a utilisé des données transversales provenant de six pays (Burkina Faso, Ethiopie, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzanie et Ouganda) dans le cadre de l'enquête sur la santé des adolescents ARISE (n = 7.625). L'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) a été calculé à l'aide des mesures de la taille et du poids et les scores z ont été calculés sur la base des normes de croissance de 2007 de l'OMS pour l'âge et le sexe. Les informations sur la démographie, les comportements diététiques et de santé ont été recueillies lors d'entretiens se face à face à l'aide d'un questionnaire standardisé. Les rapports de prévalences poolés et spécifiques au site ont été déterminés. RÉSULTATS: La prévalence de l'insuffisance pondérale, du surpoids et du retard de croissance, répartie entre les sites, était de 14,3%, 6,8% et 18,1%, respectivement. Le sexe féminin était associé à un risque plus faible d'avoir une insuffisance pondérale (rapport de prévalence poolée, RP: 0,66 ; 95%: 0,57 - 0,77) et d'avoir un retard de croissance (RP poolé: 0,63 ; IC95%: 0.55-0.71), mais un risque plus élevé de surpoids (PR poolé: 1.60; IC95%: 1.26-2.06). Les filles étaient également moins susceptibles de faire de l'exercice physique pendant au moins une heure par jour (RP poolé: 0,77 ; IC95%: 0.67-0.88) et plus susceptibles de se laver les mains après avoir utilisé des toilettes ou des latrines et de se laver les mains au savon (RP poolé: 13.1; IC95%: 1.05-1.21 et 1.35; IC95%: 1.23-1.45 respectivement). CONCLUSION: Nos résultats soulignent que le sexe est un facteur prédictif de l'état nutritionnel chez les adolescents africains subsahariens et suggèrent que des interventions spécifiques au genre pourraient être nécessaires pour réduire la double charge de la sous-nutrition et de la suralimentation.

Time to first viral load testing among pregnant women living with HIV initiated on option B+ at 5 government clinics in Kampala city, Uganda: Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Timely viral load (VL) testing is critical in the care of pregnant women living with HIV and receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). There is paucity of data regarding the Time to First Viral Load (TFVL) testing in resource-limited settings. METHODS: We extracted clinical and VL test data from records of a cohort of ART-naïve pregnant women living with HIV who initiated Option B + and were retained in care between 01 Jan 2015 and 31 Dec 2015. The data were verified against laboratory VL registers. TFVL (in months) was calculated based on the time difference between the date of ART initiation and FVL test. Descriptive and Cox regression analyses of data up to 30 Sep 2017 (33 months later) were done. RESULTS: Of the 622 records retrieved, 424 women were retained in care. Of 424 women retained in care, 182/424 (43%) had at least one VL result post ART initiation while 242/424 (57%) had no VL performed. Only 30/182 (16.5%) had a second VL. At six, nine, and twelve months, only 8/424 (1.9%), 47/424 (11.1%), and 94/424 (22.2%) had VL testing performed respectively post ART initiation. The median TFVL testing was 12.7 months (95 CI 11.6-13.7) post ART initiation. Across the five clinics, patient factors (age, gravidity, gestational age, marital status, and adherence at 12 months) were not significant predictors. CONCLUSION: A dismal 1.9% rate of achieving WHO-recommended TFVL testing and a median TFVL testing of twelve months post ART initiation were observed. The non-association of patient factors to these observations may suggest a serious need to review health system factors likely associated with these observations and their effective interventions.

Diabetes self-management in three different income settings: Cross-learning of barriers and opportunities.

The burden of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly, not least in Sub-Saharan Africa, and disadvantaged populations are disproportionally affected. Self-management is a key strategy for people at risk of or with type 2 diabetes, but implementation is a challenge. The objective of this study is to assess the determinants of self-management from an implementation perspective in three settings: two rural districts in Uganda, an urban township in South Africa, and socio-economically disadvantaged suburbs in Sweden. Data collection followed an exploratory multiple-case study design, integrating data from interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. Data collection and analysis were guided by a contextualized version of a transdisciplinary framework for self-management. Findings indicate that people at risk of or with type 2 diabetes are aware of major self-management strategies, but fail to integrate these into their daily lives. Depending on the setting, opportunities to facilitate implementation of self-management include: improving patient-provider interaction, improving health service delivery, and encouraging community initiatives supporting self-management. Modification of the physical environment (e.g. accessibility to healthy food) and the socio-cultural environment (i.e. norms, values, attitudes, and social support) may have an important influence on people's lifestyle. Regarding the study methodology, we learned that this innovative approach can lead to a comprehensive analysis of self-management determinants across different settings. An important barrier was the difficult contextualization of concepts like perceived autonomy and self-efficacy. Intervention studies are needed to confirm whether the pathways suggested by this study are valid and to test the proposed opportunities for change.