Prevalence of Central Obesity and its Association with Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Rwanda

Abstract

Central obesity is quite prevalent in women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa and has been a major risk factor for

metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have analyzed its association with cardiovascular risk

factors among those women. This study seeks to assess the magnitude of central obesity and its association with cardiovascular

risk factors among women of reproductive age in Rwanda. The study used a cross-sectional study design, which involved 138

women aged between 15 and 49 years attending selected family planning centers in Kigali. Central obesity was measured through

the size of the waist circumference. The adjusted logistic regression analysis with 95% confidence intervals was used to determine

the correlates of central obesity. A statistical significance was defined at a p-value <0.05. Participants’ mean age was 29.14 ±

6.72 with ages ranging between 18 and 45 years old. The prevalence of central obesity was 48.5%, and there was significantly

associated with age (OR=2, 95% CI: 1.24-3.35), alcohol use (OR=5.8, 95% CI: 2.08-16.08), meat consumption (OR=5.3, 95%

CI: 1.94-14.63), hypertriglyceridemia (OR= 3.87, 1.02-14.76), and elevated diastolic blood pressure (OR=6.1, 95% CI: 2.80-

17.92). The prevalence of central obesity is relatively high among women of reproductive age, and it is associated with older

age, elevated diastolic blood pressure, high triglycerides levels, meat, and alcohol consumption. The study recommends an

intensive awareness about health risks associated with central obesity and its associated factors as a strategy to address the rising

risk of cardiovascular diseases in this population