Short Communication

Prevalence and Determinants of Modifiable Risk Factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases among Adults in Mizan-Aman Town, Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Teklemariam Ergat Yarinbab¹* and Fessahaye Alemseged²

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia

² Department of Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

Submission: June 02, 2018; Published: June 13, 2018

*Corresponding author: Teklemariam Ergat Yarinbab, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia.

How to cite this article: Teklemariam E Y, Fessahaye A. Prevalence and Determinants of Modifiable Risk Factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases among Adults in Mizan-Aman Town, Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study. JOJ Pub Health. 2018; 3(5): 555622. DOI: 10.19080/JOJPH.2018.03.555622

Abstract

Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases impose a large burden on human health worldwide. Even though the burden of these chronic non-communicable diseases in Ethiopia is increasing significantly; their prevalence across different regions of the country is not known clearly. Likewise, there has been no research conducted in Mizan-Aman town on the prevalence of risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess prevalence and determinants of modifiable risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases among adults in Mizan-Aman town, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mizan-Aman town, Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling technique was used. Data analysis was done by SPSS for Windows Version 20.0. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. P-value <0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables.

Results: From behavioral risk factors, the prevalence of smoking is 8.4%, 35.9% for alcohol consumption, 23.3% for consumption of fruits and vegetables below adequate level, 10.6% for low level of total physical activity and 14.1% for khat chewing. The prevalence of biological risk factors, on the other hand, is 12.1% for hypertension, 12.1% for overweight, 4.0% for obesity and 21.29% for central obesity. Physical inactivity was associated with educational status (AOR= 5.02, 95% CI= 1.40, 17.95) whereas hypertension was associated with age (AOR=2.16, 95%CI= 1.13, 4.12) and work status (AOR=3.86, 95%CI= 1.97, 7.52). Moreover; overweight showed a significant association with sex (AOR=4.89, 95%CI= 2.63, 9.08) and age (AOR=2.31, 95%CI=1.23, 4.35).

Conclusion:Above half of the study population had at least one or more of the key risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases. Sex, age, educational status, marital status, work status and income were positive predictors of risk factors of CNCDs. Besides; current alcohol drinking, low servings of fruits and/or vegetables and physical inactivity showed a significant association with biological risk factors of CNCDs.

Keywords: Prevalence; Cncds; Modifiable Risk Factors; Mizan-Aman Town; Ethiopia

Background

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) impose a large burden on human health worldwide; and are the major causes of mortality and morbidity. CNCDs were responsible for 68% of the 56 million deaths that occurred in 2012. The burden of chronic diseases, especially in developing countries, is increasing rapidly and is becoming a significant social, economic, and health consequences [1]. The increasing incidence of chronic diseases in low-income countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) poses a growing challenge to their national health systems, [2] given that infectious diseases are still highly prevalent in these settings. The increase is attributed to interrelated changes in demographic and socio-economic determinants, influenced by globalization [3,4]. A reviewed literature on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in SSA showed that the prevalence of stroke ranged from 0.07 to 0.3%, diabetes mellitus from 0 to 16%, hypertension 6 to 48% and current smoking from 0.4 to 71% [2]. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 2011 that 34% of Ethiopian population is dying from non-communicable diseases, with a national cardiovascular disease prevalence of 15%, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence of 4% each, and diabetes mellitus prevalence of 2 % [5].

These troublesome CNCDs are caused by different modifiable risk factors. The major modifiable risk factors are classified in to two major categories namely behavioral risk factors and biological risk factors. The behavioral risk factors include physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption whereas the biological risk factors include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and overweight/ obesity. Regular and repeated intake of Khat, also, has recently been reported to be associated with increased risk of high blood pressure [6,7]. Behavioral risk factors: The global prevalence of tobacco use/smoking is 21% whereas its prevalence in SSA, Kenya and Nigeria were 40%, 9% and 4.7% respectively [8- 10]. Likewise, findings from a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia revealed that the prevalence of smoking was 9.3% [11]. The global prevalence of harmful alcohol use, on the other hand, is reported to be 38.3% whilst its prevalence as revealed from studies in Uganda and Ethiopia were 19.9% and 7.1% respectively [9,12]. A study on 1978 subjects in Mekong Delta showed that only 24.3% had ≥5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day [13]. Similarly, a study in Ethiopia revealed that 27% of the study population ate less than five servings of fruit and/or vegetables per day [11]. The findings of studies in Kenya and Tanzania, on the other hand, revealed that the prevalence of physical inactivity were 42% & 21.1%, respectively [9,14]. A study in South West Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of Khat chewing was 38.6% [11].

Biological risk factors: The global prevalence of hypertension and overweight among adults, as reported by WHO, were 40% and 35%, respectively. Findings from studies in North-West Iran and Mekong Delta, Vietnam, showed that the prevalence of hypertension were 18% and 30.4%, respectively [13,14]. Another study in Ethiopia revealed that 9.3% of the study participants were hypertensive. A study in Northern Nigeria, on the other hand, revealed that the prevalence of overweight were 53.3% and 11% [10]. On the contrary, a study in Ethiopia revealed that the prevalence of overweight among men and women were 5.7% and 7.2%, respectively [15].

These findings might imply that the distribution of risk factors of CNCDs is widespread across different areas of the world. This may be basically due to the differences in socio-demographic and lifestyle circumstances of these different regions/countries. But the prevalence of risk factors of CNCDs in Mizan-Aman town was not yet known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess prevalence and determinants of modifiable risk factors of CNCDs in Mizan-Aman town, SNNPRS, Ethiopia.

Methods

Study Area and Period

The study was conducted in Mizan-Aman town from October 10-30/2015. The town is the capital and administrative center of Bench Maji zone; located 561 KMs South West of Addis Ababa; the capital city of the country. Mizan-Aman town has a latitude and longitude of 700’N 35035’E / 7.0000N 35.5830E and an elevation of 1451 meters. It has an estimated total population of 49,591(projected from national census) and 10,331 households. It is also subdivided in to five kebeles’ (the smallest governmental administrative units) namely Edget, Kometa, Addis Ketema, Hibret and Shesheka; with the population of 11156, 7921, 11937, 8784, & 9793, respectively. The town has two governmental health institutions, 20 private clinics and 15 private drug stores.

Study Design

A community based cross sectional study was conducted. All individuals’ aged 25-64 years and lived in the town at least for six months were eligible participants for the study. Pregnant women and persons’ who were critically sick were excluded from the study.

Sample Size Determination and Sampling Procedure

Sample Size Determination: To estimate the sample size; a formula for single population proportion was used. The sample size was calculated by taking the estimated average khat chewing 38.6% (11). Five percent margin of errors with 95% confidence of certainty of any outcome was used (where n is desired sample size, Z is the value of standard normal variable at 95% confidence interval, and P is the proportion of Khat chewer which is 38.6%). Therefore, with the 10% contingency for non respondents the final sample size became 404.

Sampling Procedure: Systematic random sampling technique was used. Samples were taken from all the five Kebeles’ found in the town. First, the sample size was proportionally allocated to each kebele; according to the number of households they possessed. Next, the interval to select the households for data collection was determined to be ≈ 25. Then; after the first household (HH) was selected by lottery method among the first coming 25 HHs, every 25th households were included in the study by systematic random sampling technique. Only one participant was taken from a household. Whenever, the number of eligible individuals within a selected household was more than one, a participant had been selected by lottery method. When household members did not fulfill the inclusion criteria the next household had been taken and so on. This process continued by taking an eligible participant from every 25th household, until the sample size allocated for each kebele was satisfied.

Operational Definitions

Modifiable Risk Factors: are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, khat chewing, harmful use of alcohol, hypertension and overweight.

Low Serving of Fruits and/ or Vegetables: is serving of fruits and/or vegetables <5/day.

One Standard Alcoholic Drink: is a certain amount of alcoholic drink contains 10 gm of ethanol.

Heavy Drinker: For men ≥ 5 standard drinks per day and for women ≥4 standard drinks per day

Physical Inactivity: mean a total physical activity < 600 MET-minutes/week.

Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140mmHg or Diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg and/or currently on antihypertensive medication.

Overweight: study participants with Body Mass Index (BMI) 25-29.9 Kg/m2.

General Obesity: study participants with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2.

Central Obesity: denotes WHR > 1.0 for men and WHR > 0.85 for women.

Data Collection Tool and Procedure

The data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaires adapted from WHO STEP-wise approach for CNCDs surveillance, prepared in English and translated in to local language(Amharic) and vice versa. Fifteen senior diploma nurses (data collectors) and two senior public health professionals (supervisors) were recruited and participated in the data collection. Training was given to data collectors and supervisors on the details of the instruments, data collection processes, communication and supervisory roles based on the WHO STEPS surveillance manual. Then, sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors data were collected through structured interviewer administered questionnaires. Next, the physical measurements were conducted using the tape meter, digital automatic BP apparatus, weight scales and height scales immediately after the behavioral measurements; in the order of Blood pressure, Height, Weight, waist circumference, and lastly Hip circumference. Three BP recordings were taken. The first record was taken after the participant has rested for 15 minutes with their legs uncrossed. Then, the second and third measurements were taken at three minutes intervals, and average of the last two measurements was used to calculate the mean blood pressure. Height, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured as per the STEPS manual and were recorded to the nearest 0.5 cm. Weight was measured using ordinary bathroom scale and recorded to the nearest 100 grams.

Data Quality Control

Questionnaires were translated from English into the local language (Amharic) & vice versa. A pre-test was conducted on 5% of the sample in “Qitte” town (capital of a district nearby). Data collectors were trained on how to conduct the physical measurements and correct application of the instruments. Instruments were checked for functionality before data collection. Daily supervision was held at all kebeles’ by field supervisors and the investigator. Data collectors were enabled to rectify incomplete and inconsistent data by supervisors at the time of data collection. Supervisors used to check all procedures and completeness of formats randomly. The data was entered using a double entry method using EpiData software.

Data Processing and Analysis

The data was checked for its completeness and consistencies. Then, it was cleaned, coded and entered in to Epi Data version 3.1 and exported into SPSS for Windows version 20.00.

Descriptive and analytic statistics were computed. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify determinants of modifiable risk factors for CNCDs. Then, to control the effect of possible confounders, multivariable logistic regression was computed with a confidence interval of 95%. P-value < 0.05 on a binary logistic regression was considered to select candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression analysis as well as to declare statistically significant variables.

Ethical Considerations

Before the actual data collection, the proposal was presented to Jimma University, and then ethical clearance letter was obtained from Institutional Review Board (IRB) of College of Health Sciences. The participants were well informed about the purposes of the study, and oral consents were obtained accordingly. The participants’ rights to refuse or withdraw from participating in the study and confidentiality issues were considered.

Results

A total of 404 participants were involved in the study with 100% response rate.

The Socio-Demographic Characteristics

Among the study participants, 219 (54.2%) were men and 185 (45.8%) were women. Nearly half of the study participants, 199(49.3%), were Orthodox religion followers whereas the dominant ethnic group was Bench 168 (41.6%). About 178 (44.1%) respondents attended primary education or none. Above half, 225 (55.7%), of the study subjects were married. The main work status of the study participants over the past 12 months had been reported with higher numbers of government employee 167 (41.3%) and self-employee 141 (34.9%). The income of about 82% of the study participants was greater or equal to $1.25/day whereas the rest 18% earns less than $1.25/ day (Table 1).

The Distribution of Behavioral Risk Factors

Tobacco Use: The number of current smokers’ was 34 (8.4%). Among the current smokers 28 (82.4%) smoked manufactured tobacco products whilst 6 (17.6%) smoked hand-rolled cigarettes. Sixteen (4%) of the study participants reported someone smoked in their home within the past seven days. Thirty (7.4%) participants, on the other hand, declared someone smoke at work place in their presence within the past seven days.

Alcohol Consumption: Current alcohol consumers were 145 (35.9%). Among the current drinkers; 63 (54.8%) men were heavy drinkers whereas only one woman (3.3%) reported heavy drinking. Sixty eight (46.9%) consume alcohol usually with meals whilst 22 (15.2%) never consume alcohol with meals. Nearly all of alcohol consumer women, 29 (96.7%), reported usually consumption of alcohol with meals.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: The mean numbers of days’ fruits and vegetables consumed in a typical week were 4 and 4.75, respectively. The mean number of fruit servings consumed on a typical day was 4 whilst the same for vegetable servings on a typical day was 3.5. The mean number of combined servings of fruits and vegetables was 7.5. About 94 (23.3%) reported consumption of less than five servings of fruits and/or vegetables on a typical day.

Physical Activity: Low level of total physical activity (< 600 MET-minutes/week) was 43(10.6%) in the study population. Majority, 361(89.4%), had adequate physical activity. Reasons for this may be the involvement of considerable proportion, 302 (74.8%), of the study participants in moderate intensity activities and the fact that about 363 (89.9%) reported walking at least for 10 minutes per day, but it needs further investigation (Table 2).

Khat Chewing: Current khat chewers were 57(14.1%); among which 44(77.2%) were men and 13(22.8%) were women. The frequency of khat chewing practice among current chewers measured as daily, usually and sometimes were 20.7%, 36.2% and 43.1%, respectively.

The Distribution of Biological Risk Factors

Hypertension: About 49(12.1%) study participants were hypertensive. Thirty (7.4%) respondents were receiving antihypertensive drugs at the time of the study. The number of prehypertensive participants was 99 (24.5%). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 117(SD±13) mmHg and 78(SD±7) mmHg, respectively (Table 3).

Overweight/Obesity: The study revealed that 49 (12.1%) study subjects were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) whereas 16(4.0%) were found being obese (BMI ≥30). The number of overweight women was significantly higher than that of overweight men (67.3% Vs 32.7%). The overweight subjects were mainly government employee (34.7%) and self-employee (65.3%). All obese (4.0%) study subjects were women and government employee; i.e. none men was found obese. Eighty six (21.29%) women had central obesity (WHR > 0.85); whilst none men was found being at risk for central obesity (WHR>1.0).

Raised Risk: Above half, 204(50.5%), of the study population had at least one or more of the key risk factors (Table 4).

Determinants of Modifiable Risk Factors of CNCDs

The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sex, educational status, marital status, work status and income were positive predictors of behavioral risk factors of CNCDs. The odds of smoking among those who had educational status of primary and below was nearly three times (AOR=2.9, 95% CI=1.37, 6.12) higher than that of among secondary and above. It also showed that work status was positive predictor of low servings of fruits and/or vegetables; i.e., the odds of low servings of fruits and/or vegetables among employed study participants was three times more likely (AOR=3.03, 95% CI= 1.69, 5.44) as compared to that of unemployed subjects. Besides; the odds of physical inactivity among those who had educational status of secondary and above was five times higher (AOR=5.02, 95%CI=1.40, 17.95) than among those who had primary education and below (Table 5).

The analysis also disclosed that sex, age, work status, alcohol drinking, low servings of fruits and/or vegetables and physical inactivity were positive predictors of biological risk factors of CNCDs. The odds of overweight among women was nearly five times (AOR= 4.89, 95% CI= 2.63, 9.08) higher than that of men. The odds of being overweight among current alcohol drinkers was two and half times higher (AOR=2.52, 95% CI = 1.47, 4.40) than that of not drinkers. Similarly, the odds of being hypertensive among current alcohol drinkers was more than two times higher (AOR=2.39, 95% CI=1.13, 5.09) as compared to that of not drinkers. The odds of hypertension among physically inactive subjects, on the other hand, was nearly six times more likely (AOR=5.60, 95% CI = 2.67, 11.77) as compared to those who had adequate physical activity (Table 6).

Discussion

This study had focused on determining the prevalence and determinants of known behavioral and biological risk factors for CNCDs. The prevalence of current smoking (8.4%) was significantly lower than the WHO report of 2012 global prevalence [16] and findings of an assessment on cardiovascular risk factors in SSA countries [8]; but higher than findings of a study in Nigeria [10]. This finding was almost consistent with the findings of a study in Kenya [9] and findings of a study on higher education students in Ethiopia [17].

The prevalence of current alcohol consumption (35.9%) was consistent with the findings of a study in Maharashtra, India [18], and the global prevalence of alcohol consumption; [19] whereas it was significantly higher than the findings of studies in Uganda, Kenya and South West Ethiopia [9,12,11]. Here it’s clear that considerable proportion of the population, due to alcohol consumption, is at higher risk of CNCDs; which calls for prompt action. Among current alcohol consumers; the proportion of men (54.8%) reported heavy drinking was significantly higher than that of women heavy drinkers (3.3%). This is consistent with the findings of studies on CVDs risk factors, and substance use and its association with HBP in Ethiopia [20,21].

About 23.3% of the population reported consumption of fruits and vegetables below adequate level. This finding is consistent with the findings of a study in South West Ethiopia [11]. The proportion of the population who consumed fruits and vegetables below adequate level in this study was by far lower than the findings of studies in Vietnam, Jordan, Mozambique and Ethiopia [13,20,22,23]. One of the possible reasons for the difference may be the abundant production of fruits and vegetables in the study area; but it needs further investigation for this study does not address such issues.

Low level of total physical activity (< 600 MET-minutes/ week) was 10.6% in the study population. This finding is significantly lower than the study findings in Kenya, South West Ethiopia and Tanzania [9,11,24]. One of the reasons for this may be the fact that majority, 89.4%, of the study population had adequate physical activity. The prevalence of current khat chewing was 14.1%. This study finding was lower than the study findings in South West Ethiopia [11].

The prevalence of hypertension (12.1%) was higher than the study findings in south west whilst it was considerably lower than findings of the studies in Kenya, Uganda, Iran and Vietnam [9,25,13,14]. One of the reasons, for this particular study, might be the fact that high proportion of the population was physically active and consumed adequate servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day. The prevalence of hypertension in the population was higher among women (53.1%) as compared to that of among men (46.9%). This is consistent with the study findings in Ethiopia [11]. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 117(SD±13) mmHg and 78(SD±7) mmHg, respectively. This may be due to the fact that majority of the study participants were physically active and exercised adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. This finding is in line with the study findings in Uganda [25].

The prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-29.9) was 12.1%, whilst the prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30) was 4.0%. These findings were considerably lower than the global prevalence and study findings in Nigeria (10, 26). In contrary, the prevalence of overweight was also higher than the findings of some similar studies in Vietnam, Kenya and Ethiopia [9,13,15]. The proportion of overweight women was significantly higher than that of overweight men (67.3% Vs 32.7%). This is consistent with the study findings in Nigeria and Ethiopia [10,26]

The study revealed that sex, age, educational status, marital status, work status and income were positive predictors of risk factors of CNCDs. This is consistent with the study findings in Kenya where sex, age, educational status and work status were found to be positive predictors of risk factors of CNCDs [9]. Educational status showed statistically significant association with physical inactivity and current smoking. This is also in agreement with the study findings in Kenya and Ethiopia [9,27]. The implication of these findings could be when people become educated; they might have better access for health information about the health effects of smoking and physical inactivity from different sources like media, news papers and scientific articles. Work status also showed a significant association with low servings of fruits and vegetables. The implication of this finding could be when people have works with better income; they might have better opportunity to purchase and consume fruits and vegetables. Hence, this might help them to eat a recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.

Alcohol consumption and physical inactivity showed a significant association with hypertension. This is consistent with the study findings in Nepal [28,29]. This might imply that alcohol drinkers and physically inactive people are at more risk of developing the hypertension.

Conclusion

The prevalence of alcohol consumption was the highest followed by the prevalence of low servings of fruits and/or vegetables; as compared to other risk factors. Sex, educational status, marital status, work status and income were positive predictors of behavioral risk factors of CNCDs. Sex, age, work status, alcohol drinking, low servings of fruits and/or vegetables and physical inactivity were positive predictors of biological risk factors of CNCDs. Besides, sex was significantly associated with alcohol drinking, khat chewing and overweight. Work status also showed significant associations with low servings of fruits and/ or vegetables, physical inactivity and hypertension. Educational status, on the other hand, was seen to have significant associations with current smoking and physical inactivity.

Recommendation

This study revealed that about half of the study population possessed at least one or more of the key risk factors of CNCDs. Therefore, Mizan-Aman town health office should plan and implement health education programs on prevention and control of CNCDs. On top of this, Bench-Maji zone health department and Mizan-Aman town health office should design a local media plan to aware the public about CNCDs and their risk factors. Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and SNNPRS health bureau in collaboration with other stakeholders should encourage further studies on risk factors of CNCDs. Any interested researcher should conduct further study on the biochemical measurements to have a better picture of the prevalence of the risk factors of CNCDs. It is highly recommended that government should set up a community-based CNCDs risk factors surveillance system in the future.

Acknowledgment

We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Mizan-Aman Health Science College, Bench-Maji zone chief administrative office and Bench Maji zone health department for their material and financial support to undertake the research work. We would also like to extend our thanks to Jimma University, Institutional Review Board of Health Science College, for ethically cleared the research activity. Finally, our great appreciation goes to the data collectors and supervisors who participated in the study.

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