Key result
In a population-based survey in Botswana, women had a higher adjusted prevalence of hypertension than men (39.4% vs 26.1%), while men had higher rates of tobacco use (34.4% vs 4.4%).
Why the study?
Gender differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, health-related habits, weight status, and common risk factors in Botswana needed assessment.
Are there gender differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors among adults in Botswana?
Cross-Sectional (n=2,947)
Are there gender differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors among adults in Botswana?
Absolute Event Rate: 26.1% vs 39.4%
In Botswana, women have a higher prevalence of hypertension and multiple NCD risk factors compared to men, despite men having higher rates of tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and obesity.
Hypothesis-generating for gender-specific NCD strategies in Botswana; prospective studies needed before practice implications.
The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in the prevalence non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and in associated health-related habits, weight status and common risk factors in Botswana. Data were from the cross-sectional, population-based Botswana STEPS Survey II conducted in 2014. A total sample of 2947 survey participants aged 25-64 years were included the study. The results showed that a statistically significant higher percentage of men used tobacco compared with women (34.4%, 95% CI: 33.5-35.1 vs 4.4%, 95% CI: 4.3-4.5). Men also had consistently and statistically significantly greater heavy alcohol consumption and lower fruit and/or vegetable consumption than women. Physical inactivity among women was higher than in men. Controlling for other factors, men had a higher probability of being overweight (28.7%, 95% CI: 28.6-28.8 vs 18.3%, 95% CI: 18.0-18.6) and obese (25.8%, 95% CI: 25.4-26.2 vs 10.2%, 95% CI: 9.9-10.5) than women. Women were at a greater risk of developing NCDs compared with men since their adjusted prevalence of having at least three common risk factors was higher than men's. Women had a higher adjusted predicted prevalence of suffering from hypertension than men (39.4%, 95% CI: 38.9-40.0 vs 26.1%, 95% CI: 25.5-26.8). Appropriate policies and programmes need to be adopted to urgently address the problem of NCDs in Botswana.
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Letamo et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Non-communicable diseases and health-related habits (n=2,947). Male gender vs. Female gender was evaluated on Adjusted predicted prevalence of hypertension. In a population-based survey in Botswana, women had a higher adjusted prevalence of hypertension than men (39.4% vs 26.1%), while men had higher rates of tobacco use (34.4% vs 4.4%).
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