Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable disease risk factors in the Dimamo health and demographic surveillance system
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22072989 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Khuliso Ravhuhali (0000-0002-6202-381X, National Health Laboratory Service), Khuliso Goodman Ravhuhali (University of Limpopo), Cairo Bruce Ntimana (University of Limpopo), Eric Maimela (0000-0003-2843-4663, University of Limpopo) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1756409-1756409 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-16 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1756409 |
| PMID | 41778124 |
| OpenAlex | W7129054639 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 27 |
Background Socioeconomic inequalities play a crucial role in shaping the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and associated risk factors. This study examined socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of chronic NCD risk factors among adults in the DIMAMO Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years and above. Data on socioeconomic status (SES) and NCD risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, high salt intake, low fruit and vegetable intake, and physical inactivity were collected using an adapted WHO STEPS questionnaire. Socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed through household assets. A wealth index was constructed using principal component analysis to classify participants into SES quintiles. Concentration indices (CIs) and concentration curves were computed to assess the magnitude and direction of SES-related inequalities. Inequality decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contribution of SES to each risk factor's inequality. Results Participants were predominantly female (63%) and younger than 50 years (58%), with the majority unemployed (60.3%) and possessing secondary-level education (63.1%). Low fruit and vegetable intake (88.7%) emerged as the most prevalent NCD risk factor, followed by alcohol consumption (35.2%) and hypertension (22.6%). Diabetes prevalence was significantly higher among individuals in higher SES groups ( p = 0.0071), while smoking ( CI = −0.149, p = 0.024), physical inactivity ( CI = −0.159, p = 0.009), and low fruit and vegetable intake ( CI = −0.021, p = 0.047) were more concentrated among the poor. In contrast, diabetes ( CI = 0.336, p = 0.001) and alcohol use ( CI = 0.090, p = 0.036) were significantly more prevalent among the wealthy. Decomposition analysis showed that socioeconomic status accounted for nearly all observed inequalities, indicating that wealth disparities remain the dominant driver of NCD risk distribution in this population. Conclusion The findings of the current study reveal a dual burden of NCD risk factors across socioeconomic groups; behavioral risks are concentrated among the poor, while metabolic conditions such as diabetes are more common among the affluent. Addressing these disparities requires context-specific interventions that target both behavioral and metabolic risk factors across all socioeconomic strata
Behavioral risk · Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System · Chronic disease · Diabetes mellitus · Disease · Inequality · Psychological intervention · Socioeconomic status · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |