Tobacco smoking, smoking cessation and life expectancy among people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: a simulation modelling study.

INTRODUCTION: As access to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved globally, tobacco-related illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions, account for a growing proportion of deaths among people with HIV (PWH). We estimated the impact of tobacco smoking and smoking cessation on life expectancy among PWH in South Africa. METHODS: In a microsimulation model, we simulated 18 cohorts of PWH with virologic suppression, each homogenous by sex, initial age (35y/45y/55y) and smoking status (current/former/never). Input parameters were from data sources published between 2008 and 2022. We used South African data to estimate age-stratified mortality hazard ratios: 1.2-2.3 (females)/1.1-1.9 (males) for people with current versus never smoking status; and 1.0-1.3 (females)/1.0-1.5 (males) for people with former versus never smoking status, depending on age at cessation. We assumed smoking status remains unchanged during the simulation; people who formerly smoked quit at model start. Simulated PWH face a monthly probability of disengagement from care and virologic non-suppression. In sensitivity analysis, we varied smoking-associated and HIV-associated mortality risks. Additionally, we estimated the total life-years gained if a proportion of all virologically suppressed PWH stopped smoking. RESULTS: Forty-five-year-old females/males with HIV with virologic suppression who smoke lose 5.3/3.7 life-years compared to PWH who never smoke. Smoking cessation at age 45y adds 3.4/2.4 life-years. Simulated PWH who continue smoking lose more life-years from smoking than from HIV (females, 5.3 vs. 3.0 life-years; males, 3.7 vs. 2.6 life-years). The impact of smoking and smoking cessation increase as smoking-associated mortality risks increase and HIV-associated mortality risks, including disengagement from care, decrease. Model results are most sensitive to the smoking-associated mortality hazard ratio; varying this parameter results in 1.0-5.1 life-years gained from cessation at age 45y. If 10-25% of virologically suppressed PWH aged 30-59y in South Africa stopped smoking now, 190,000-460,000 life-years would be gained. CONCLUSIONS: Among virologically suppressed PWH in South Africa, tobacco smoking decreases life expectancy more than HIV. Integrating tobacco cessation interventions into HIV care, as endorsed by the World Health Organization, could substantially improve life expectancy.

Psychological distress among South African healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among HCWs in South Africa during the beginning phases of COVID-19 and make relevant recommendations. METHOD: The survey was administered online through a data-free platform. Data were benchmarked to the national population of over 500 000 healthcare professionals in South Africa. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine association between psychological distress and potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: A total of 7607 healthcare professionals participated in the study (1760 nurses, 2843 medical practitioners and 3004 other healthcare professionals). Half of the nurses, 41% of medical practitioners and 47% of other healthcare professionals were classified as psychologically distressed. Those who were of older age, provided with well-being support services and having a positive outlook on the healthcare system were significantly less likely to be distressed. Being female medical practitioners and female other healthcare professions, requesting routine counselling, being concerned about not having enough leave and that their life insurance policy did not cover COVID-19 were more likely to be distressed. CONCLUSION: Psychological well-being of HCWs in South Africa is at risk. We recommend that psychological distress of HCWs be routinely assessed and that routine counselling, well-being support services, appropriate hazardous leave and insurance be provided to all HCWs.Contribution: This study adds to the literature on the psychological distress faced by HCWs in South Africa during COVID-19.

Psychological distress among South African healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers (HCWs). Objectives: This study sought to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among HCWs in South Africa during the beginning phases of COVID-19 and make relevant recommendations. Method: The survey was administered online through a data-free platform. Data were benchmarked to the national population of over 500 000 healthcare professionals in South Africa. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine association between psychological distress and potential explanatory variables. Results: A total of 7607 healthcare professionals participated in the study (1760 nurses, 2843 medical practitioners and 3004 other healthcare professionals). Half of the nurses, 41% of medical practitioners and 47% of other healthcare professionals were classified as psychologically distressed. Those who were of older age, provided with well-being support services and having a positive outlook on the healthcare system were significantly less likely to be distressed. Being female medical practitioners and female other healthcare professions, requesting routine counselling, being concerned about not having enough leave and that their life insurance policy did not cover COVID-19 were more likely to be distressed. Conclusion: Psychological well-being of HCWs in South Africa is at risk. We recommend that psychological distress of HCWs be routinely assessed and that routine counselling, well-being support services, appropriate hazardous leave and insurance be provided to all HCWs. Contribution: This study adds to the literature on the psychological distress faced by HCWs in South Africa during COVID-19.

Area-level deprivation and individual-level socioeconomic correlates of the diabetes care cascade among black south africans in uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

South Africa is experiencing a rapidly growing diabetes epidemic that threatens its healthcare system. Research on the determinants of diabetes in South Africa receives considerable attention due to the lifestyle changes accompanying South Africa's rapid urbanization since the fall of Apartheid. However, few studies have investigated how segments of the Black South African population, who continue to endure Apartheid's institutional discriminatory legacy, experience this transition. This paper explores the association between individual and area-level socioeconomic status and diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control within a sample of Black South Africans aged 45 years or older in three municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Cross-sectional data were collected on 3,685 participants from February 2017 to February 2018. Individual-level socioeconomic status was assessed with employment status and educational attainment. Area-level deprivation was measured using the most recent South African Multidimensional Poverty Index scores. Covariates included age, sex, BMI, and hypertension diagnosis. The prevalence of diabetes was 23% (n = 830). Of those, 769 were aware of their diagnosis, 629 were receiving treatment, and 404 had their diabetes controlled. Compared to those with no formal education, Black South Africans with some high school education had increased diabetes prevalence, and those who had completed high school had lower prevalence of treatment receipt. Employment status was negatively associated with diabetes prevalence. Black South Africans living in more deprived wards had lower diabetes prevalence, and those residing in wards that became more deprived from 2001 to 2011 had a higher prevalence diabetes, as well as diabetic control. Results from this study can assist policymakers and practitioners in identifying modifiable risk factors for diabetes among Black South Africans to intervene on. Potential community-based interventions include those focused on patient empowerment and linkages to care. Such interventions should act in concert with policy changes, such as expanding the existing sugar-sweetened beverage tax.

Vaccine hesitancy and related factors among South African adults in 2021: unpacking uncertainty versus unwillingness.

Background: Amidst widespread public health recommendations and availability of COVID-19 vaccinations, half of South African adults are vaccinated against COVID-19. This study investigated the socio-behavioral determinants of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa, where vaccine hesitancy was separated into unwilling ness and uncertainty to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: Data was collected from a large-scale public survey during June-October 2021 that included online and telephonic surveys. Vaccination hesitancy was based on the question "When available, would you take the COVID 19 vaccine?," with responses categorized into those who were willing, unwilling, and uncertain about taking a COVID-19 vaccine. Multinomial regression examined the association between socio-behavioral variables and vaccine hesitancy. Results: Overall, 73.8% reported they would definitely or probably take the vaccine, 16.4% were uncertain and 9.9% reported they probably or definitely would not (n = 16,988). Younger age, White and Colored population groups, no influenza vaccination history, previous vaccination refusal, knowing someone who experienced a serious vaccination side-effect, misperceptions about vaccine benefits, cultural or religious discouragement from taking a COVID-19 vaccination, lack of governmental confidence, concerns about side-effects, perceived lack of safety information, and lack of trust in the pharmaceutical industry and in the information from health care providers were all associated with higher odds of being uncertain and unwilling to take a COVID-19 vaccination. Strengths of association for unwillingness and uncertainty varied by the explanatory variables. Concern about effectiveness due to fast development was associated with uncertainty to take the vaccine but not with unwillingness. Concerns about side-effects had stronger associations with uncertainty than with unwillingness, while previous vaccine refusal, misperceptions of the protective benefits of vaccines, White population group, religious/cultural discouragement, and lack of trust in the pharmaceutical industry and health care providers' information had stronger associations with unwillingness than uncertainty. Conclusion: The determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy should be addressed in interventions to improve vaccine uptake. Public health interventions and health communication can be prioritized and tailored to the different forms of vaccination hesitancy.

A Tailored mHealth Intervention for Improving Antenatal Care Seeking and Health Behavioral Determinants During Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa: Development and Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: South Africa, a middle-income country, has an adolescent fertility rate far higher than that of high-income countries. Adolescent girls and young women have an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and lower antenatal appointment attendance rates than older adult pregnant women. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions to improve health behaviors among pregnant adolescent girls and young women in low- and middle-income countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the development and components of an mHealth intervention to improve antenatal appointment attendance and health behavioral determinants among pregnant adolescent girls and young women in South Africa and details the protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial that evaluated the intervention's efficacy and user acceptability. METHODS: The intervention, Teen MomConnect, sent tailored motivational behavior change and behavioral reinforcement SMS text messages to participants about antenatal appointment keeping and pregnancy behaviors. The delivery methodology of the intervention was adapted from MomConnect, an mHealth education program for pregnant women in South Africa that has nationwide coverage. In addition, participants received a face-to-face motivational interviewing session delivered by a trained research assistant. Pregnant adolescent girls and young women aged 13 to 20 years were recruited from health facilities and community networks. Participants were randomized into the control group that received the standard MomConnect health SMS text messages or the experimental group that received the Teen MomConnect intervention. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire upon enrollment in the study and a follow-up questionnaire after the end of their pregnancy. The questionnaires assessed demographic characteristics, pregnancy behaviors, and the psychosocial determinants of antenatal appointment attendance (knowledge, attitudes, social support, risk perceptions, self-efficacy, intention, and action planning). Feasibility was assessed using descriptive analyses of acceptability, study implementation processes, and perceived satisfaction with the intervention. The number of appointments attended was obtained from the participants' clinic records. Appointment attendance was compared between the control and experimental groups, as were awareness of HIV status and the psychosocial determinants of antenatal appointment attendance. RESULTS: Participant recruitment was conducted from May 2018 to December 2018, and the questionnaire-based data collection was completed by December 2019. Overall, 412 participants were enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: This paper describes the Teen MomConnect intervention to improve antenatal appointment attendance and pregnancy health behaviors among adolescent girls and young women. The results on the intervention's preliminary efficacy and user acceptability will inform policy makers and health program officers on how tailored, age-appropriate, and motivational health behavior messages can be delivered via mobile phone to pregnant adolescent girls and young women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR) PACTR201912734889796; https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=9565. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/43654.

Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates of Diabetes Mellitus in South Africa: Results from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1).

In South Africa, there are a limited number of population estimates of the prevalence of diabetes and its association with psychosocial factors. This study investigates the prevalence of diabetes and its psychosocial correlates in both the general South African population and the Black South African subpopulation using data from the SANHANES-1. Diabetes was defined as a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% or currently on diabetes treatment. Multivariate ordinary least squares and logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with HbA1c and diabetes, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among participants who identified as Indian, followed by White and Coloured people, and lowest among Black South Africans. General population models indicated that being Indian, older aged, having a family history of diabetes, and being overweight and obese were associated with HbA1c and diabetes, and crowding was inversely associated with HbA1c and diabetes. HbA1c was inversely associated with being White, having higher education, and residing in areas with higher levels of neighborhood crime and alcohol use. Diabetes was positively associated with psychological distress. The study highlights the importance of addressing the risk factors of psychological distress, as well as traditional risk factors and social determinants of diabetes, in the prevention and control of diabetes at individual and population levels.

Tobacco smoking and prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in rural South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

Background: South Africa is facing a convergence of communicable diseases (CDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The contribution of tobacco use to the burden of these conditions is unknown. Methods: We analyzed the associations between current tobacco smoking and four important CDs and NCDs in Vukuzazi, a cross-sectional study of individuals aged 15 years and older conducted between 2018-2020 in a demographic surveillance area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data on HIV, active tuberculosis (TB), hypertension and diabetes mellitus were collected via direct measurement from participants. Results: Of 18,024 participants (68% female, median age 37 years [interquartile rage 23-56 years]), 1,301 (7.2%) reported current smoking. Prevalence of HIV infection was similarly high among people who currently smoked (34.6%) and people who had never smoked (33.9%). However, among people living with HIV (PLWH), there was a higher prevalence of detectable viremia in people reporting current smoking compared to people who reported never smoking (28.8% vs. 16.6%; p-value < 0.001). Active TB was more prevalent in people who currently smoked than in people who never smoked (3.1% vs 1.3%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were lower in people reporting current smoking than in people reporting never smoking (17.1% vs 26.0% (p < 0.001), and 2.5% vs 10.2% (p < 0.001), respectively). In sex-stratified multivariable analyses that were adjusted for potential confounding factors (including body mass index for the NCDs), the magnitude of differences in CD prevalence between people who currently smoked and people who never smoked decreased, whereas the lower prevalence of NCDs among people reporting current smoking persisted. Conclusions: In rural South Africa, smoking is associated with higher rates of active TB, and people with HIV who smoke have worse disease control. In contrast, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are less common in those who smoke. Interventions to screen for TB among those who smoke and to address smoking among people with HIV may be particularly impactful.

Determinants of Parents Taking Their Children for Scheduled Vaccinations during COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa.

Scheduled or routine childhood vaccinations are known for their effectiveness in eradicating fear for many life-threatening and disabling diseases and saving lives globally. This paper is aimed at assessing determinants of parents taking their children for scheduled vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Data used for this paper were obtained from the Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) COVID-19 Online Survey titled "One Year Later Survey", which was conducted between 25 June and 11 October 2021 in South Africa. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to achieve this study goal. Findings showed that just over half of parents (56.7%) reported taking their children for scheduled vaccinations across the country. Males were significantly less likely (aOR = 0.53 95% CI [0.45-0.61], p < 0.001) to have taken their children for scheduled vaccinations than females. Parents' experiences and views were among key determinants of parents having taken their children for scheduled vaccinations in South Africa. Parents who had never taken influenza (flu) vaccines were significantly less likely (aOR = 0.33 [0.28-039], p < 0.001) to have taken their children for scheduled vaccinations than those who had taken flu vaccines. Parents who did not know anyone who had personally experienced serious side effects to any vaccine were significantly less likely (aOR = 0.77 [0.66-0.90], p = 0.001) to have taken their children for scheduled vaccinations than those who knew anyone who had experienced them. Parents who did not think vaccines were a good way to protect communities from disease were significantly less likely (aOR = 0.50 [0.33-0.77], p = 0.001) to have taken their children for scheduled vaccinations than those who thought vaccines were a good way to protect communities from disease. These findings are of significance especially during the time when the country is still struggling to reach a substantial proportion of its population vaccinated for COVID-19. Thus, these findings may be relevant in determining parents' intentions to have their children receive the South African Department of Health recommended vaccines for their respective age group.

Social distancing behaviour: avoidance of physical contact and related determinants among South Africans: twelve days into the COVID-19 lockdown.

Social distancing behaviour is a primary preventive measure for reducing COVID-19 transmission. Improved understanding of factors associated with adherence to social distancing is vital for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in South Africa. The study assessed adherence to social distancing and its associated factors during the state-implemented lockdown in South Africa. Data was analysed from a large-scale public survey conducted in South Africa from 8 to 29 April 2020, which was administered online and telephonically. Invitations to participate were distributed widely on local websites and social media networks, including on a data-free platform. Adherence to social distancing was measured by self-report of having engaged in close physical contact with someone outside the home. Simple and multiple logistic regression models examined the association between social distancing and potential explanatory variables. Of the 17,586 participants, 9.2% came into close physical contact with a person outside their home by hugging, kissing, or shaking hands during the past 7 days. The odds of coming into close physical contact with other people were significantly higher for males, students, and those with incorrect knowledge on physical distancing, angry attitudes about the lockdown, lack of confidence in the government response, high-risk perception, movement out of the local area, travelling to shops using public transport, households with communal water facilities and higher household size. The 25-59-year olds compared to 18-24-year olds, and the White and Indian/Asian compared to the African population groups had significantly lower odds of close physical contact with others outside the home. The study identifies subgroups of individuals for whom public health interventions to improve adherence to social distancing should be prioritised and tailored. Interventions and policies should take cognisance of the social determinants of health as well as culturally accepted greeting practices like hand shaking.

Adverse event reporting practices in drug-resistant tuberculosis facilities across South Africa.

Background: The reporting of adverse drug reactions associated with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) medication is important for pharmacovigilance, especially in high-burden countries such as South Africa. With DR-TB treatment being so dynamic, it is important to understand adverse event reporting practices at specialised facilities. Objectives: The study aimed to understand the adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting practices at DR-TB treatment facilities in South Africa. Method: Interviews were conducted with healthcare workers at specialised DR-TB facilities. This was to collect data on demographics, pharmacovigilance training, and determine attitudes and practices towards reporting adverse events. A checklist was developed to review the most recent adverse event forms captured at the facility. Results: Most participants did not have adverse event reporting training since their initial training but were confident that they could complete a form themselves. Most participants could correctly identify the major adverse events associated with DR-TB medication, but some deemed non-adverse events as plausible. Adverse event report forms were not standardised with most participants deeming further training and regular feedback as reasons to report ADRs. Conclusion: Standardisation of adverse event report forms used and the establishment of regular reporting will increase adverse event reporting at DR-TB facilities. Continuous training, empowerment and expansion of staff categories eligible to report adverse events will enhance and sustain such practice. Contribution: The study highlights challenges faced by healthcare professionals in reporting adverse events.

Classification of Obesity among South African Female Adolescents: Comparative Analysis of Logistic Regression and Random Forest Algorithms.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the performance of logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) algorithms to model obesity among female adolescents in South Africa. METHODS: Data was analysed on 375 females aged 15-17 from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011/2012. The primary outcome was obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2. A total of 31 explanatory variables were included, ranging from socio-economic, demographic, family history, dietary and health behaviour. RF and LR models were run using imbalanced data as well as after oversampling, undersampling, and hybrid sampling of the data. RESULTS: Using the imbalanced data, the RF model performed better with higher precision, recall, F1 score, and balanced accuracy. Balanced accuracy was highest with the hybrid data (0.618 for RF and 0.668 for LR). Using the hybrid balanced data, the RF model performed better (F1-score = 0.940 for RF vs. 0.798 for LR). CONCLUSION: The model with the highest overall performance metrics was the RF model both before balancing the data and after applying hybrid balancing. Future work would benefit from using larger datasets on adolescent female obesity to assess the robustness of the models.

Trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity among South African and European adolescents: a comparative outlook.

BACKGROUND: South Africa has several national surveys with body weight-related data, but they are not conducted regularly. Hence, data on longitudinal trends and the recent prevalence of adolescent obesity are not readily available for both national and international reporting and use. This study collectively analysed nationally representative surveys over nearly 2 decades to investigate trends in prevalence of adolescent obesity in South Africa. Furthermore, it compared these data with similar continental report for 45 countries across Europe and North America including United Kingdom, Norway, Netherland, Sweden, Azerbaijan, etc. to identify at-risk sub-population for overweight and obesity among adolescents.  METHODS: The study included primary data of adolescents (15 - 19 years) from South African national surveys (N = 27, 884; girls = 51.42%) conducted between 1998 and 2016. Adolescents' data extracted include measured weight, height, sex, parent employment status, monthly allowance received, and family socioeconomic-related variables. Data were statistically analysed and visualized using chi-square of trends, Wald statistics, odds ratio and trend plots, and compared to findings from European survey report (N = 71, 942; girls = 51.23%). South African adolescents' obesity and overweight data were categorized based on World Health Organization (WHO)'s growth chart and compared by sex to European cohort and by family socioeconomic status. RESULTS: By 2016, 21.56% of South African adolescents were either obese or overweight, similar to the 21% prevalence reported in 2018 among European adolescents. Girls in South Africa showed higher trends for obesity and overweight compared to boys, different from Europe where, higher trends were reported among boys. South African Adolescents from upper socioeconomic families showed greater trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity than adolescents from medium and lower socioeconomic families. Mothers' employment status was significantly associated with adolescents' overweight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that by 2016, the prevalence of adolescent obesity was high in South Africa - more than 1 in 5 adolescents - which is nearly similar to that in Europe, yet South African girls may be at a greater odd for overweight and obesity in contrast to Europe, as well as adolescents from high earning families. South African local and contextual factors may be driving higher prevalence in specific sub-population. Our study also shows the need for frequent health-related data collection and tracking of adolescents' health in South Africa.

Child and adolescent food insecurity in South Africa: A household-level analysis of hunger.

Food insecurity impacts childhood nutritional status, physical and cognitive development, and increases lifetime risk for chronic disease. Previous South African studies have examined hunger at the sub-national level without a specific focus on children and adolescents. This study determines the national prevalence of childhood food insecurity, from birth to adolescence, and identifies factors associated with hunger within the household. Individual and household-level data were extracted from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Prevalence of food insecurity was assessed using the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project (CCHIP) index. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted on all households (with and without children) to determine the predictors of food insecurity, with additional analyses adjusting for child dependency and sociodemographic characteristics of household heads in households with children. Of 5 098 households surveyed, 68.6% had children and adolescents present (0-19 years). Of these households, 32.5% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 29.5-35.7) were experiencing hunger and 26.3% (95% CI: 23.9-28.8) were at risk of hunger. Among all the households, significant associations for experiencing hunger were the presence of children and adolescents: Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.68 (95% CI: 1.12-2.53); being female-headed: AOR = 1.53 (95% CI: 1.21-1.94) and informally-located; AOR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.07-2.43). Of the racial groups, having a non-African household head, Coloured: AOR = 0.29 (95% CI: 0.19-0.44) and White/Indian/Asian: AOR = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.04-0.33) conferred lower odds of experiencing hunger; and, the household head having secondary/tertiary education conferred lower odds of experiencing hunger; AOR = 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28-0.56) as well as being at risk of hunger; AOR = 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52-0.92). Receiving social grants, pensions, or remittances more than doubled the odds of experiencing hunger; AOR = 2.15 (95% CI: 1.49-3.09). After adjusting for child dependency in households with children, having at least one older child (age 15-19 years old) did not change the odds of food insecurity. In summary, only 41% of South African households with children and adolescents were food secure. The associations between household head sociodemographics, household location and size on household food insecurity indicate a need for multi-sectoral interventions to bolster sustainable food systems for households with children and adolescents and to improve public protections for female-headed, African-headed and informally-located households dependent on social grants.

Psychosocial determinants of the intention and self-efficacy to attend antenatal appointments among pregnant adolescents and young women in Cape Town, South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal care is imperative for adolescents and young women, due to their increased risk of pregnancy-related complications. Evidence on the psychosocial determinants of antenatal attendance among this vulnerable group is lacking. This study assessed the relevance of the psychosocial sub-determinants of intention and self-efficacy to attend antenatal appointments among pregnant adolescents and young women in Cape Town, South Africa; with a view to informing behaviour change interventions. METHODS: Pregnant women and girls aged 13-20 years were recruited to complete a cross-sectional questionnaire assessing their pregnancy experiences, pregnancy-related knowledge and psychosocial determinants related to antenatal care seeking. Confidence Interval Based Estimation of Relevance (CIBER) analysis was used to examine the association of the psychosocial sub-determinants with the intention and self-efficacy to attend antenatal appointments, and to establish their relevance for behaviour change interventions. The psychosocial sub-determinants comprised knowledge, risk perceptions, and peer, partner, family and individual participant attitudes. RESULTS: The mean gestation age of participants (n=575) was 18.7 weeks, and the mean age was 18 years. Risk perceptions of experiencing preeclampsia and heavy bleeding during pregnancy or childbirth if clinic appointments are not attended had moderate mean scores and were positively correlated with intention and self-efficacy, which makes them relevant intervention targets. Several family, peer, partner and individual participant attitudes that affirmed timely appointment attendance had strong positive associations with intention and self-efficacy but their mean score were already high. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high means of the family, peer, partner and individual participant attitudes, the relevance of these attitudinal items as intervention targets was relatively low. Further studies are recommended to assess the relevance of these sub-determinants in similar populations.

Comparison of the Ability of Anthropometric Indices to Predict the Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in South African Males: SANHANES-1.

This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of body mass index (BMI) to predict the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and whether waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip (WHR) and waist-to-height (WHtR) ratios are better predictors of the risk of DM than BMI in South African men aged 20 years and older. Data from the first South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) were used. Overall, 1405 men who had valid HbA1c outcomes were included. The sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cut-off points for predicting DM were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A total of 34.6% percent of the study participants were overweight/obese, while 10.5%, 10.4%, 36.6% and 61.0% had HbA1c, WC, WHR and WHtR above the normal reference ranges, respectively. Based on age-adjusted logistic regression analysis, the highest likelihood of DM was observed for those participants who had increased WC and WHtR (odds ratios [OR] were 6.285 (95% CI: 4.136−9.550; p < 0.001) and 8.108 (95% CI: 3.721−17.667; p < 0.001)). The ROC curve analyses for WC, WHR, and WHtR displayed excellent ability to predict the risk of DM, with their areas under the curve (AUC) being 80.4%, 80.2% and 80.8%, respectively. The overall cut-off points to predict the risk of DM for WC, WHR, and WHtR were ≥88.95 cm, ≥0.92, and >0.54, respectively. The ROC analysis for BMI, on the other hand, showed acceptable ability to predict the risk of DM (AUC = 75.6%), with its cut-off point being ≥24.64 kg/m2. Even after stratifying the data by two age groups, WHtR remained a superior index to predict DM, especially in the younger age group. To conclude, no significant differences were observed between the AUC for BMI the AUCs for other indices. However, the AUCs for these indices showed significant excellent ability as opposed to the significant acceptable ability of BMI to predict DM in adult South African men.

Racial disparities in psychological distress in post-apartheid South Africa: results from the SANHANES-1 survey.

PURPOSE: South Africa has long endured a high prevalence of mental disorders at the national level, and its unique social and historical context could be a contributor to an increased risk of mental health problems. Our current understanding is limited regarding the relative importance of various social determinants to mental health challenges in South Africa, and how existing racial inequities may be explained by these determinants. METHODS: This study attempted to elucidate potential social determinants of mental health in South Africa using data from the nationally representative South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). The main outcome of interest was psychological distress, measured with the Kessler-10 scale. Hierarchical linear regression models included covariates for demographic and socioeconomic factors, count of traumatic events, and a series of stress-related constructs. Analyses were conducted on two populations: the entire sample (n = 15,981), and the African subpopulation (n = 10,723). RESULTS: Regression models on the entire sample indicated racial disparities in psychological distress, with Africans experiencing higher distress than White and Coloured individuals. Results within the African sub-population indicated geo-spatial disparities, with Africans in formal urban settings experiencing higher psychological distress than those living in formal and informal rural locales. Across both samples, results indicated a cumulative association between count of stressors and traumatic events and distress. CONCLUSION: We found racial disparities across several mental health-related domains. Africans had greater exposure to traumatic events, social stressors, and psychological distress. This research is a necessary foundation for public health interventions and policy change to effectively reduce inequities in psychological distress.

Trends and correlates of HIV prevalence among adolescents in South Africa: evidence from the 2008, 2012 and 2017 South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour surveys.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are at increased risk of HIV infection compared to other age groups. There is an urgent need for strategic information that will inform programmes to reduce risk and vulnerability to HIV and reverse the pattern of increasing HIV infection as they transition to adulthood. This paper analysed trends and factors associated with HIV prevalence among adolescents in South Africa using the national HIV population-based household surveys conducted in 2008, 2012 and 2017. METHODS: All three surveys used a multistage cross-sectional design. A trend analysis was conducted to assess the differences in HIV prevalence and covariates overtime using P-trend Chi-squared statistic. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with HIV prevalence. RESULTS: Overall there was a significant increase in HIV prevalence among adolescents aged 12-19 years from 3.0% (n = 2892) in 2008 to 3.2% (n = 4829) in 2012 and 4.1% (n = 3937) in 2017 (p = 0.031). The odds of being HIV positive among adolescents aged 12-19 years was significantly higher among females [AOR = 2.24; 95% CI (1.73-2.91); p < 0.001] than males, those residing in KwaZulu-Natal province [AOR = 2.01; 95% CI (1.-3.99); p = 0.027] than Northern Cape, and those who did not attend an educational institution and were unemployed [AOR = 2.66; 95% CI (1.91-3.67); p < 0.001] compared to those attending an educational institution. The odds were significantly lower among Whites [AOR = 0.29; 95% CI (0.09-0.93); p = 0.037], Coloureds [AOR = 0.21; 95% CI (0.11-0.37); p ≤ 0.001] and Indian/Asian [AOR = 0.08; 95% CI (0.02-0.34); p = 0.001] population groups than Black Africans. CONCLUSION: The observed increasing trend and gender disparities in HIV prevalence suggests an urgent need for age appropriate and gender specific HIV interventions tailored and targeted at identified drivers of HIV infection among adolescents.

Race, geographical location and other risk factors for hypertension: South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011/12.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading cardiovascular disease in Africa. It is increasing in prevalence due partly to the epidemiological transition that African countries, including South Africa, are undergoing. This epidemiological transition is characterised by a nutrition transition andurbanisation; resulting in behavioural, environmental and stress changes that are subject to racial and geographic divides. The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) examined the association of traditional risk factors; and less traditional risk factors such as race, geographical location, social stressors and psychological distress with hypertension in a national population-based sample of South Africans. METHODS: Data were analysed on individuals ≥15 years who underwent a physical examination in the SANHANES (n = 7443). Hypertension was defined by blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or self-reported hypertension medication usage. Stepwise regression examined the association of demographic, socioeconomic, life stressors, and health risk factors with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension. Secondly, the risk factor associations and geographical location effects were investigated separately for the African race group. RESULTS: Increasing age (AOR = 1.069, p < 0.001); male gender (AOR = 1.413, p = 0.037); diabetes (AOR = 1.66, p = 0.002); family history of high blood pressure (AOR = 1.721, p < 0.001); and normal weight, overweight and obesity (relative to underweight: AOR = 1.782, p = 0.008; AOR = 2.232, p < 0.001; AOR = 3.874, p < 0.001 respectively) were associated with hypertension. Amongst African participants (n = 5315) age (AOR = 1.068, p < 0.001); male gender (AOR = 1.556, p = 0.001); diabetes (AOR = 1.717, p = 0.002); normal weight, overweight and obesity (relative to underweight: AOR = 1.958, p = 0.006; AOR = 2.118, p = 0.002; AOR = 3.931, p < 0.001); family history of high blood pressure (AOR = 1.485, p = 0.005); and household crowding (AOR = 0.745, p = 0.037) were associated with hypertension. There was a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension in rural informal compared to urban formal settings amongst African participants (AOR = 0.611, p = 0.005). Other social stressors and psychological distress were not significantly associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between social stressors or psychological distress and hypertension. However, the study provides evidence of high-risk groups for whom hypertension screening and management should be prioritised, including older ages, males, people with diabetes or with family history of hypertension, and Africans who live in urban formal localities.