Gender differences in nutritional status, diet and physical activity among adolescents in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in nutritional status, dietary intake, physical activity and hand hygiene among adolescents from diverse geographical settings in sub-Saharan Africa.


METHODS
This study utilised cross-sectional data from six countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda) within the ARISE Adolescent Health Survey (n = 7625). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured heights and weights, and z-scores were calculated based on the 2007 WHO growth standards for age and sex. Information on demographics, diet and health behaviours was collected through face-to-face interviews using a standardised questionnaire. Site-specific and pooled prevalence ratios were determined.


RESULTS
The prevalence of underweight, overweight and stunting pooled across sites was 14.3%, 6.8% and 18.1%, respectively. Female sex was associated with a lower risk of being underweight (pooled prevalence ratio 0.66, 95% 0.57, 0.77) and stunted (pooled PR 0.63, 95% CI 0.55, 0.71), but a higher risk of being overweight (pooled PR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26, 2.06). Females were also less likely to exercise for 1 h or more per day (pooled PR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67, 0.88), and more likely to wash hands after using toilets or latrines and to wash hands with soap (pooled PRs 1.13, 95% CI 1.05, 1.21 and 1.35, 95% CI 1.23, 1.45, respectively).


CONCLUSION
Our results emphasise that sex is a key predictor of nutritional status among sub-Saharan African adolescents and suggest that gender-specific interventions may be required to reduce the double burden of under- and overnutrition.
['Darling|Anne Marie|AM|', 'Sunguya|Bruno|B|', 'Ismail|Abbas|A|', 'Manu|Abubakar|A|', 'Canavan|Chelsey|C|', 'Assefa|Nega|N|', 'Sie|Ali|A|', 'Fawzi|Wafaie|W|', 'Sudfeld|Chris|C|', 'Guwattude|David|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D000067697:Adolescent Health D017954:Africa South of the Sahara D000367:Age Factors D015992:Body Mass Index D002648:Child D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004032:Diet D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D015438:Health Behavior D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009752:Nutritional Status D050177:Overweight D012307:Risk Factors D012737:Sex Factors D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D013851:Thinness D055815:Young Adult
gender nutritional status physical activity sub-Saharan Africa dietary intake hand hygiene sexe Afrique subsaharienne activité physique apport alimentaire hygiène des mains état nutritionnel