ISSN: 0970-938X (Print) | 0976-1683 (Electronic)

Biomedical Research

An International Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Anthropometrically determined abdominal obesity among nurses in Vhembe and Capricorn Districts, Limpopo, South Africa.

Anecdotal evidence concerning the prevalence of abdominal obesity (AO) among nurses in South Africa is alarming; however, no scientific study has confirmed this notion. The purpose of this study was to determine AO, using proxy measures of waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among nurses in Vhembe and Capricorn districts, Limpopo, South Africa. The study involved a purposive sample of 153 practising nurses aged 19 to 50+ years. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured and participation in physical activity was assessed by report. Cut-off points for abdominal obesity were: WC= ≥102 cm (men) and ≥88 cm (women); WHR = ≥0.9 (men) and ≥0.8 (women) and WHtR= ≥0.5. The prevalence of AO was 68.2%, 80.5%, 56.5% according to WC, WHR and WHtR, respectively. Among the males nurses, AO were: WC (18.8%), WHR (37.0%), and WHtR (%) while corresponding figures for females nurses were WC (49.4%), WHR (43.5%), WHtR (0.0%). Female nurses had significantly ( X 2 =2.2 03, p = 0.003) higher prevalence of AO compared to the male nurses. The prevalence of AO (WHR, WHtR) increased with age, peaking at ages 40-49 for both sexes, while WC measured obesity showed a similar pattern but peaks at age 50+ among the male nurses. Majority of the nurses decline participating in physical activity. There is high prevalence of AO among nurses in this region, a rate comparable to the general population in South Africa. Future studies identifying risk factors for prevalence of AO in nurses are warranted.

Author(s): Goon DT, Maputle MS, Olukoga A, Lebese R, Khoza LB, Mothiba TM
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