title: Prevalence and determinants of diabetes among older adults in Ghana.
abstract: Diabetes is one of the leading non-communicable diseases in Africa, contributing to the increasing disease burden among the old adults. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of diabetes among adults aged 50 years and above in Ghana.
  
  
  
  A cross sectional study based on data collected from Study of Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1 from 2007 to 2008. Data was collected from 5565 respondents of whom 4135 were aged 50+ years identified using a multistage stratified clusters design. Bivariate and hierarchical multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association of the determinants and diabetes.
  
  
  
  The weighted prevalence of diabetes among the adults aged 50 years and above in Ghana was 3.95% (95% Confidence Interval: 3.35-4.55) with the prevalence being insignificantly higher in females than males (2.16%, 95% CI: 1.69-2.76 vs. 1.73%, 95% CI: 1.28-2.33). Low level of physical activity (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 2.11, 95% CI: 1.21-3.69) and obesity (AOR 4.81, 95% CI: 1.92-12.0) were associated with increased odds of diabetes among women while old age (AOR 2.58, 95% CI: 1.29-5.18) and university (AOR 12.8, 95% CI: 4.20-39.1), secondary (AOR 3.61, 95% CI: 1.38-9.47) and primary education (AOR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.02-7.19) were associated with increased the odds of diabetes among men.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of diabetes among old adults shows a similar trend with that of the general population. However, the prevalence may have been underestimated due to self-reporting and a high rate of undiagnosed diabetes. In addition, the determinants of diabetes among older adults are a clear indication of the need for diabetes prevention programme targeting the young people and that are gender specific to reduce the burden of diabetes at old age. Physical activity and nutrition should be emphasised in any prevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Gender, School of Nursing, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, 30100, Eldoret, Kenya. gatimu.maina@gmail.com.|School of Nursing, Moi University, PO. Box 4606, 30100, Eldoret, Kenya. gatimu.maina@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samwel Maina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gatimu
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Gender, School of Nursing, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, 30100, Eldoret, Kenya.|School of Nursing, Moi University, PO. Box 4606, 30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: Benson Williesham
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Milimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå International School of Public Health, Umeå University, SE-90 185, Umeå, Sweden.|Department of Nursing I, University of the Basque country, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel San
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sebastian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Ageing; Determinants; Diabetes; Ghana; Obesity; Older; Prevalence; SAGE