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Abstract
Background Alcohol consumption and inadequate fruits and vegetable (FnV) intake are major reasons for the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the years. The older Ghanaian adult is at high risk of NCD and data on alcohol and FnV consumption are required to guide policy to mitigate its effect. This analysis aimed to determine the factors associated with alcohol consumption and assess the relationship between alcohol consumption and FnV intake among Ghanaians aged 50 years and older.
Methods This analysis used WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 2, Ghana data set conducted between 2014 and 2015. Data on demographic characteristics, FnV intake, and alcohol consumption were collated and analysed. Multivariable Poisson, logistic and probit regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and inadequate FnV intake.
Results A total of 3533 Ghanaians aged 50 years and older, 41.0% men and 59.0% women, were included in this study. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption was 22.8% (95% CI 20.7% to 25.1%). Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with sex, age group, marital status, religion, place of residence and history of smoking. The prevalence of adequate FnV intake was 52.6% with a mean daily intake of 6.45 servings: 2.98 for fruits and 3.47 for vegetables. There was a significant positive correlation between inadequate FnV intake and alcohol consumption. Inadequate FnV consumption was significantly higher among lifetime alcohol consumers compared with non-alcohol consumers. (Poisson estimate; adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR) (95% CI)=1.35 (1.12 to 1.63), logistic estimate; adjusted Old Ratio (aOR) (95% CI)=1.13 (1.05 to 1.21) and probit estimate; adjusted normalized coefficient (aβ) (95% CI)=0.19 (0.07 to 0.31))
Conclusion About a quarter and nearly half of older Ghanaian adults consume alcohol and inadequate FnV, respectively. Alcohol consumption is significantly associated with inadequate FnV intake. Interventions to address inadequate FnV intake among older adults in Ghana should also include policies that regulate the use of alcohol in this population.
- dietary patterns
- diabetes mellitus
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Footnotes
Contributors KT and AEY developed the concept. KT, JT and AEY were involved in the data analysis and drafting of the results. KT, AEY, AA-N and TA contributed to the writing and reviewing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests No, there are no competing interests.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Ethics approval The SAGE Wave 2 study was approved by WHO's Ethical Review Board with reference number RPC149 and, the Ethical and Protocol Review Committee, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement Data are available in a public, open access repository. The minimal data set used to support the findings of this study is available upon request through the WHO website http://www.who.int/healthinfo/sage/cohorts/en/.