Prevalence of abdominal obesity and its correlates among adults in a peri-urban population of West Africa

Simone K Malik; Jerome Kouame; Mory Gbane; Madikiny Coulibaly; Michèle D Ake; Odile Ake

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2019.3.334

Prevalence of abdominal obesity and its correlates among adults in a peri-urban population of West Africa

AIMS Public Health. 2019 Sep 23;6(3):334-344. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2019.3.334. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Simone K Malik¹, Jerome Kouame², Mory Gbane³, Madikiny Coulibaly⁴, Michèle D Ake⁵, Odile Ake³

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Cardiology, National Institute of Public Health, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
² Department of Public Health, Hydrology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, University Felix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
³ Nutrition Department, National Institute of Public Health, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
⁴ Maternal and Child Health, National Institute of Public Health, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
⁵ Pharmacy-Nutrition Laboratory, National Institute of Public Health, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence of abdominal obesity dramatically increases both in developed countries and in developing countries. In several regions in Africa, obesity (especially abdominal) is seen as a sign of affluence, dignity and respect. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of abdominal obesity and seek some factors associated in a peri-urban population of West Africa.

Methods: During April-May 2014, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Anonkoi 3, a neighborhood of Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Adults of 18 years old and over, not bedridden were included. Sampling was done in two stages. First, we selected the households. Then in each household we randomly chose one adult. Abdominal obesity was measured using a measuring tape and defined by waist circumference ratio (TT) to hip circumference (TH) greater or equal to 0.80 in women and greater or equal to 0.95 in men. Data from sociodemographic, corpulence, socioeconomic level, food habit, level of physical activity and blood pressure were analyzed. Univariate analysis using the Pearson KHI-square test at a significance level of 0.05 and a logistic regression was performed.

Results: We visited 486 households in which 486 people aged 36.1 ± 12.83 years agreed to participate in the study. Prevalence of abdominal obesity was 50.8%. Those aged 30-45 years, women, couples, those with a primary level of education, the poor, people with high blood pressure, subjects less active and obese (general obesity) had more abdominal obesity. After logistic regression, individuals aged 30-45 years (adjusted OR = 2.35; p = 0.004) and 45 years and older (adjusted OR = 3.18; p = 0.001); females (adjusted OR = 49.05; p = 0.000); hypertension (adjusted OR = 2.26; p = 0.014) and obesity (OR = 2.94; p = 0.009).

Conclusion: This work allowed us to estimate a relatively high prevalence of abdominal obesity in a peri-urban African population.

Keywords: Africa; Ivory Coast; abdominal obesity; noncommunicable diseases; peri-urban areas.