Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Background: The increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents in South Africa is a growing public health concern. Aim: To examine the clustering of NCD risk factors, with a focus on gender, socio-economic status (SES) and perceived stress among adolescents. Setting: T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2855 |
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| author | Avela Mathe Maya M. van Gent Leon R. van Niekerk |
| author_facet | Avela Mathe Maya M. van Gent Leon R. van Niekerk |
| author_sort | Avela Mathe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents in South Africa is a growing public health concern.
Aim: To examine the clustering of NCD risk factors, with a focus on gender, socio-economic status (SES) and perceived stress among adolescents.
Setting: The study involved adolescents from eight schools in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and Amatole district, Eastern Cape.
Methods: A stratified random sample of 266 adolescents (aged 12 years–18 years) was assessed for anthropometric, physiological, and perceived stress measures. Data included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, glucose levels, and perceived stress (via the Perceived Stress Scale). Analysis involved descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and k-means clustering.
Results: Females (n = 155) showed a higher prevalence of NCD risk factors, with 80.2% classified as overweight or obese compared to 19.8% of males, and 77.2% had elevated cholesterol versus 22.8% of males. Perceived stress was higher in affluent schools (59.8%) despite fewer metabolic risks. K-means analysis identified four health profiles with significant SES and health differences (p 0.001). Cluster 1 (high SES) showed elevated BP, BMI, and stress, while Clusters 2–4 (low SES) varied in risks, with Cluster 4 showing the highest BP and metabolic risks despite low stress.
Conclusion: These results highlight unique health profiles and risk factors across socio- economic contexts, with female adolescents from lower socio-economic backgrounds facing greater metabolic risks.
Contribution: This Study provides original insights into the interplay between gender, SES and perceived stress in shaping NCD risk among South African adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-437377ed40ea42b293e5203d94b1afa7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1025-9848 2071-9736 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-437377ed40ea42b293e5203d94b1afa72025-02-11T13:23:20ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362025-01-01300e1e910.4102/hsag.v30i0.28551209Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South AfricaAvela Mathe0Maya M. van Gent1Leon R. van Niekerk2Department of Human Movement Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, AliceDepartment of Human Movement Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, AliceDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Fort Hare, East LondonBackground: The increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents in South Africa is a growing public health concern. Aim: To examine the clustering of NCD risk factors, with a focus on gender, socio-economic status (SES) and perceived stress among adolescents. Setting: The study involved adolescents from eight schools in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and Amatole district, Eastern Cape. Methods: A stratified random sample of 266 adolescents (aged 12 years–18 years) was assessed for anthropometric, physiological, and perceived stress measures. Data included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, glucose levels, and perceived stress (via the Perceived Stress Scale). Analysis involved descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and k-means clustering. Results: Females (n = 155) showed a higher prevalence of NCD risk factors, with 80.2% classified as overweight or obese compared to 19.8% of males, and 77.2% had elevated cholesterol versus 22.8% of males. Perceived stress was higher in affluent schools (59.8%) despite fewer metabolic risks. K-means analysis identified four health profiles with significant SES and health differences (p 0.001). Cluster 1 (high SES) showed elevated BP, BMI, and stress, while Clusters 2–4 (low SES) varied in risks, with Cluster 4 showing the highest BP and metabolic risks despite low stress. Conclusion: These results highlight unique health profiles and risk factors across socio- economic contexts, with female adolescents from lower socio-economic backgrounds facing greater metabolic risks. Contribution: This Study provides original insights into the interplay between gender, SES and perceived stress in shaping NCD risk among South African adolescents.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2855adolescentsmetabolic risk factorsncdsperceived stresssouth africa |
| spellingShingle | Avela Mathe Maya M. van Gent Leon R. van Niekerk Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences adolescents metabolic risk factors ncds perceived stress south africa |
| title | Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full | Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_short | Risk factor clusters for non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| title_sort | risk factor clusters for non communicable diseases in adolescents in eastern cape south africa |
| topic | adolescents metabolic risk factors ncds perceived stress south africa |
| url | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2855 |
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