Adolescent health in rural Ghana: A cross-sectional study on the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases and malnutrition constitute the main health problems in children, while adolescents and adults are increasingly facing cardio-metabolic conditions. Among adolescents as the largest population group in this region, we investigated the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors (CRFs), and evaluated demographic, socio-economic and medical risk factors for these entities. In a cross-sectional study among 188 adolescents in rural Ghana, malarial infection, common infectious diseases and Body Mass Index were assessed. We measured ferritin, C-reactive protein, retinol, fasting glucose and blood pressure. Socio-demographic data were documented. We analyzed the proportions (95% confidence interval, CI) and the co-occurrence of infectious diseases (malaria, other common diseases), malnutrition (underweight, stunting, iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency [VAD]), and CRFs (overweight, obesity, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension). In logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated for the associations with socio-demographic factors. In this Ghanaian population (age range, 14.4–15.5 years; males, 50%), the proportions were for infectious diseases 45% (95% CI: 38–52%), for malnutrition 50% (43–57%) and for CRFs 16% (11–21%). Infectious diseases and malnutrition frequently co-existed (28%; 21–34%). Specifically, VAD increased the odds of non-malarial infectious diseases 3-fold (95% CI: 1.03, 10.19). Overlap of CRFs with infectious diseases (6%; 2–9%) or with malnutrition (7%; 3–11%) was also present. Male gender and low socio-economic status increased the odds of infectious diseases and malnutrition, respectively. Malarial infection, chronic malnutrition and VAD remain the predominant health problems among these Ghanaian adolescents. Investigating the relationships with evolving CRFs is warranted.

The relationship between dietary micronutrients intake and cognition test performance among school‐aged children in government‐owned primary schools in Kumasi metropolis, Ghana

“…These imply that a large number of these children were likely to be micronutrients deficient at different degrees and their consequences, including poor health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Previous studies in Ghana (Alicke et al, ; Egbi, Alatiah, Ayi, & Steiner‐Asiedu, ) had reported high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (93.6%, 36.6%) in children aged 6–12 years. The story seems not to change.…”

Malnutrition, Hypertension Risk, and Correlates: An Analysis of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey Data for 15–19 Years Adolescent Boys and Girls

“…In the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) report [ 8 ], 15–19 years adolescents boys compared to their female peers were reported to have a higher prevalence of stunting and underweight while the girls had a higher overweight prevalence. Emerging data from Ghana has also shown varied and relatively higher prevalence rates of stunting (15–50.3%), underweight (7–19.4%), and overweight/obesity (6.9–17%) among adolescent males and females depending on the context in which the study was conducted [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Although these studies are limited by their cross-sectional design and geographical scope, which mainly includes the metropolitan areas of Accra and Kumasi; the general conclusion is that Ghanaian adolescent boys are often worse off regarding stunting and underweight compared to their female peers.…”

SNP rs6564851 in the BCO1 Gene Is Associated with Varying Provitamin a Plasma Concentrations but Not with Retinol Concentrations among Adolescents from Rural Ghana

“…Between June and August 2015, 200 adolescent boys and girls from the Agogo 2000 birth cohort were reassessed and underwent a health check-up as part of the follow-up on the impact of gestational malaria on health outcomes [ 26 ]. The inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional study were turning 15 in the year that the study was conducted, informed written consent, absence of pregnancy and no previous diagnosis of type 1 diabetes [ 13 ]. After excluding participants with implausible values ( n = 1), without plasma carotenoid measurements ( n = 1), and one of each twin-pair ( n = 9) to avoid bias in the gene frequency, the final number of 189 adolescents were included in the analyses.…”

“…Alicke et al previously analyzed data of 188 adolescents from the Agogo 2000 birth cohort study to characterize “the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors” in rural Ghana. In this population, more than one-third (36%) had VAD, and the median plasma retinol concentration was 0.77 (IQR: 0.49–1.05) µmol/L [ 13 ]. However, the total plasma carotenoid concentrations (median: 2.8 (2.2–3.8) µmol/L) and β-carotene concentrations (1.49 (1.12–2.22) µmol/L) were three times higher than the reference values [ 14 , 15 ].…”