Clustering of lifestyle risk factors among Algerian adolescents: Comparison between urban and rural area

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle behavior risk factors (LBRs) such as sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, smoking, unhealthy eating patterns and being overweight/obese play a major role in the development or prevention of NCDs. Objective: Compare the clustering of LBRs between urban and rural Algerian adolescents. We expect differences in LBRs between urban and rural area. Design: Data of this cross-sectional study was derived from GSHS. Self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was filled out by 4532 adolescents (11–16 years), which addressed LBRs of NCDs. LBRs clustering was measured by the ratios of observed (O) and expected (E) prevalence of one or more simultaneously occurring LBRs for urban and rural area separately. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association of LBRs as dependent variable with demographic variables (location, age, gender). Results: The most common LBR was physical inactivity (84.6%: 50.9% for urban and 49.1% for rural). Adolescents in urban area had a higher prevalence of two (56.8% vs. 43.2%) and three and more (61.3 vs. 38.7%) LBRs than rural. In urban area, a significant positive association was found between: (low fruits and vegetables + physical inactivity) [2.06 (1.61-2.64)] and (high SB + smoking) [2.10 (1.54-2.76)], while (physical inactivity + high SB) [0.70 (0.54-0.91)] showed a significant negative association. In rural area, (high SB + overweight/obesity) [1.49 (1.09-2.04)] had a significant positive association. While, (low fruits and vegetables + high SB) [0.75 (0.60-0.94)], (physical inactivity + high SB) [0.65 (0.49-0.86)] and (physical inactivity + smoking) [0.70 (0.49-0.99)] had a negative association. Conclusions: Several socio-demographic factors have been identified to play a role in LBRs clustering among Algerian adolescents. Results of the study suggest the development of intervention aiming to tackle different LBRs rather than focusing on a single LBR.