Abstract
There is a paucity of data on the burden of obesity among primary Health care professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among Primary Healthcare Professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This workplace cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 Primary Health Care Professional nurses selected conveniently across 41 primary healthcare facilities in Eastern Cape, South Africa following a the WHO STEPwise approach and using the WHO STEPwise questionnaire for data collection. Data were expressed as mean, counts and proportions, as appropriate. We compared percentages using chi-square test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. Seventy six percent of the nurses were obese and 18% were overweight. Age, gender, marital status, duration of practice, alcohol use and smoking were significantly associated with obesity. Only age >30 years and not using alcohol were independent predictors of obesity, after adjusting for confounders. We found a high prevalence of obesity among primary healthcare professional nurses in this setting. This constitute future risk for an increased prevalence of chronic diseases among the healthcare workforce in this setting. There is a need for measures to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours and weight management among nurses in this setting.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are key public health challenges, and form part of the leading risk factors for chronic diseases, morbidity and mortality worldwide (WHO, 2016)
There is a paucity of data on the burden of obesity among primary Health care professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
This study examines the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among Primary Healthcare Professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
Summary
Overweight and obesity are key public health challenges, and form part of the leading risk factors for chronic diseases, morbidity and mortality worldwide (WHO, 2016). Genetics, socio-economic status, ethnicity, food marketing and physical environment impact greatly on these modifiable factors which often makes the prevention of obesity a challenging task (Aryee, Helegbe, Baah, Sarfo-Asante, & Quesit-Therson, 2014). The pledge of a long and healthy life by the South African government for all its citizens is threatened by the grievous burden of overweight and obesity. Healthy lifestyle education and advocacy is important for the reduction of overweight and obesity (Steyn et al, 2004). Health professionals can be outlined as essential stakeholders in fostering the reduction of obesity burden and the achievement of the pledged healthy life for all South Africans. Nurses in particular, who constitute the larger proportion of the healthcare workforce (Aryee et al, 2013; Ogunjimi, Ikorok, & Olayinka, 2010) have major roles to play in health education and health promotion activities towards weight management
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