Abstract
Background: Little is known about modifiable dietary and physical activity risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Sierra Leone. This information is critical to the development of health improvement interventions to reduce the prevalence of these diseases. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of dietary and physical activity risk behaviours amongst adults in Bo District, Sierra Leone. Methods: Adults aged 40+ were recruited from 10 urban and 30 rural sub-districts in Bo. We examined risk factors including: ≤150 min of moderate or vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) weekly, physical inactivity for ≥3 h daily, ≤5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables, and salt consumption (during cooking, at the table, and in salty snacks). We used logistic regression to investigate the relationship between these outcomes and participants’ socio-demographic characteristics. Results: 1978 eligible participants (39.1% urban, 55.6% female) were included in the study. The prevalence of behavioural risk factors was 83.6% for ≤5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables; 41.4 and 91.6% for adding salt at the table or during cooking, respectively and 31.1% for eating salty snacks; 26.1% for MVPA ≤150 min weekly, and 45.6% for being physically inactive ≥3 h daily. Most MVPA was accrued at work (nearly 24 h weekly). Multivariable analysis showed that urban individuals were more likely than rural individuals to consume ≤5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% Confidence Interval (1.04–1.15)), add salt at the Table (OR 1.88 (1.82–1.94)), eat salty snacks (OR 2.00 (1.94–2.07)), and do MVPA ≤150 min weekly (OR 1.16 (1.12–1.21)). Male individuals were more likely to add salt at the Table (OR 1.23 (1.20–1.27)) or consume salty snacks (OR 1.35 (1.31–1.40)) than female individuals but were less likely to report the other behavioural risk-factors examined. Generally, people in lower wealth quintiles had lower odds of each risk factor than those in the higher wealth quintiles. Conclusion: Dietary risk factors for CVD are highly prevalent, particularly among urban residents, of Bo District, Sierra Leone. Our findings highlight that forthcoming policies in Sierra Leone need to consider modifiable risk factors for CVD in the context of urbanisation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1530 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | BMC Public Health |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are particularly thankful to the data collectors (DC); field manager (FM) and data manager (DM) who supported us in collecting the data to publish this research article, these include: Ramatu Senesie DC; Allieu Abu Sheriff DC; Albert Sidikie Sama FM; Abdulai Kamara DC; Umu Binta Bah DC; Michael Dawson DC; Christiana Pratt DC; Michael E. Garrick DC; Peter Tamba Morsay DC; Frances Koker DC; Ismael Vandi DC; Samuel Kamanda DC; Wilfred A. U. Jimmy DC- Team Supervisor; Yvonne Vincent DC; Abu Bakarr Mansaray DC; Mariama Jalloh DC- Team Supervisor; Jospeh Lamin DM. In addition, we also want to thank and acknowledge the interns (Kadijatu Assiatu Kargbo; Amara Vandi Fomba; Rita kallon; Veronica Manty Marrah; Carpenter Emmanuel; Bangura A. Ronald; Kpallu Kpakila Sahr; Habibatu Adama Konuwa; Hassan Benya; Patrick Lebbie) who supported our research team in conducting the survey. OO is supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Improving Health in Slums. MW acknowledges support from the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. This paper presented independent research and the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Funding Information:
This study used data from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors in Sierra Leone, which was supported by a Small Grant from the Wellcome Trust, grant number 209921/Z/17/Z.
Funding Information:
We are particularly thankful to the data collectors (DC); field manager (FM) and data manager (DM) who supported us in collecting the data to publish this research article, these include: Ramatu Senesie DC; Allieu Abu Sheriff DC; Albert Sidikie Sama FM; Abdulai Kamara DC; Umu Binta Bah DC; Michael Dawson DC; Christiana Pratt DC; Michael E. Garrick DC; Peter Tamba Morsay DC; Frances Koker DC; Ismael Vandi DC; Samuel Kamanda DC; Wilfred A. U. Jimmy DC- Team Supervisor; Yvonne Vincent DC; Abu Bakarr Mansaray DC; Mariama Jalloh DC- Team Supervisor; Jospeh Lamin DM. In addition, we also want to thank and acknowledge the interns (Kadijatu Assiatu Kargbo; Amara Vandi Fomba; Rita kallon; Veronica Manty Marrah; Carpenter Emmanuel; Bangura A. Ronald; Kpallu Kpakila Sahr; Habibatu Adama Konuwa; Hassan Benya; Patrick Lebbie) who supported our research team in conducting the survey. OO is supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Improving Health in Slums. MW acknowledges support from the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. This paper presented independent research and the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
Keywords
- Adult
- Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Diet
- Exercise
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Sierra Leone/epidemiology