title: Distribution and patterning of non-communicable disease risk factors in indigenous Mbororo and non-autochthonous populations in Cameroon: cross sectional study.
abstract: Data on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among indigenous populations are needed for interventions to improve health care. We conducted a survey in 2013 among rural indigenous Mbororo, Fulbe and other ethnic groups to determine the distribution of risk factors of NCDs in Cameroon.
  
  
  
  We selected seven targets of NCD risk factors: tobacco use, alcohol use, diet (salt/sugar intake, vegetable/fruit consumption), raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, physical inactivity and weight measures. The WHO STEPwise approach was used to collect data from 1921 consenting participants aged ≥20 years. Prevalence of NCD risk factors was summarised by descriptive statistics.
  
  
  
  Underweight was widespread, Mbororo (50.8%) and Fulbe (37.2%). Increase in prevalence of six risk factors was observed among the Fulbe when compared to Mbororo. Participants aged 20-39 years had low levels of physical activity, poor diet and higher levels of alcohol consumption (except Mbororo) and those aged ≥40 years had higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, current smoking and overweight/obesity. Men and women differed in current smoking, occasional/daily alcohol consumption, pre-hypertension and hypertension, continuous walking for at least ten minutes, and weight measures for Fulbe and Mbororo, p < 0.05.
  
  
  
  Distribution of NCD risk factors was high among settled Fulani (Fulbe) when compared to indigenous nomadic Fulani (Mbororo). Change from nomadic to settled life might be accompanied by higher prevalence of NCDs. This data should be used to develop intervention programmes to curb the rising burden of NCDs in rural indigenous and non-indigenous populations.
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council/University of the Witwatersrand Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. kufekle@yahoo.co.uk.|Health of Populations in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, Department of Medicine and Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon. kufekle@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Nyuyki Clement
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kufe
authors.affiliation: Health of Populations in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, Department of Medicine and Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ngufor
authors.affiliation: Health of Populations in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, Department of Medicine and Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mbeh
authors.affiliation: Health of Populations in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, Department of Medicine and Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mbanya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004034:Diet Surveys; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Fulani; Indigenous populations; Low and middle income countries; Non-communicable diseases; Risk factors