title: Disparities in Risk Factors Associated with Obesity between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland among Women of Reproductive Age Based on the 2010 TDHS.
abstract: The occurrence of overweight and obesity has serious health implications. The 2010 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data set was reanalysed to compare the prevalences of overweight and obesity between Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and to determine how demographic factors can predict overweight and obesity across the United Republic of Tanzania. About 7.92% of the Tanzanian women of reproductive age were obese, 15% were overweight, and 11.5% were underweight. Women from Mainland Tanzania (6.56%) were significantly less likely (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53-0.82) to be affected by obesity as compared to women from Zanzibar (12.19%). The common predictors of obesity in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar were wealth index, marital status, and age. Whereas the place of residence and education level emerged as predictors of obesity in the Mainland Tanzania alone, the number of meals per day did so in Zanzibar. Most importantly, Zanzibar had a greater prevalence of obesity compared to Mainland Tanzania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The University of Dodoma, P.O. Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6458-455X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The University of Dodoma, P.O. Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Abdalla H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mtumwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, The University of Dodoma, P.O. Box 395, Dodoma, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Julius Edward
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ntwenya
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Dodoma, P.O. Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Said A H
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vuai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult