Prevalence, trends and distribution of lifestyle cancer risk factors in Uganda: a 20-year systematic review
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Date
2023-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd
Abstract
Abstract
Background Cancer is becoming an important public health problem in Uganda. Cancer control requires surveillance of lifestyle risk factors to inform targeted interventions. However, only one national Non-Communicable Disease
(NCD) risk factor survey has been conducted in Uganda. This review assessed the prevalence, trends and distribution
of lifestyle risk factors in Uganda.
Methods The review identifed studies up to January 2019 by searching Medline, Embase, CINAL and Cochrane
databases. Further literature was identifed from relevant websites and journals; scanning reference lists of relevant
articles; and citation searching using Google Scholar. To be eligible, studies had to have been conducted in Uganda,
and report prevalence estimates for at least one lifestyle cancer risk factor. Narrative and systematic synthesis was
used to analyse the data.
Results Twenty-four studies were included in the review. Overall, unhealthy diet (88%) was the most prevalent
lifestyle risk factor for both males and females. This was followed by harmful use of alcohol (range of 14.3% to 26%)
for men, and being overweight (range of 9% to 24%) for women. Tobacco use (range of 0.8% to 10.1%) and physical
inactivity (range of 3.7% to 4.9%) were shown to be relatively less prevalent in Uganda. Tobacco use and harmful use
of alcohol were more common in males and more prevalent in Northern region, while being overweight (BMI>25 kg/
m2) and physical inactivity were more common in females and more prevalent in Central region. Tobacco use was
more prevalent among the rural populations compared to urban, while physical inactivity and being overweight
were more common in urban than in rural settings. Tobacco use has decreased overtime, while being overweight
increased in all regions and for both sexes.
Conclusion There is limited data about lifestyle risk factors in Uganda. Apart from tobacco use, other lifestyle risk
factors seem to be increasing and there is variation in the prevalence of lifestyle risk factors among the diferent
populations in Uganda. Prevention of lifestyle cancer risk factors requires targeted interventions and a multi-sectoral
approach. Most importantly, improving the availability, measurement and comparability of cancer risk factor data
should be a top priority for future research in Uganda and other low-resource settings.
Keywords Cancer, Lifestyle, Risk-factors, Prevalence, Trends, Surveillance, Control
Description
Keywords
Cancer, Lifestyle, Risk-factors, Prevalence, Trends, Surveillance, Control
Citation
Nakaganda, Annet, Immaculate Mbarusha, Angela Spencer, et al. 'Prevalence, Trends and Distribution of Lifestyle Cancer Risk Factors in Uganda: A 20-Year Systematic Review', BMC Cancer, vol. 23/no. 1, (2023), pp. 311-311.