Ploubidis, George, Mathenge, Wanjiku, De Stavola, Bianca, Grundy, Emily, Foster, Allen and Kuper, Hannah (2013) Socioeconomic position and later life prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and visual impairment in Nakuru, Kenya. International Journal of Public Health, 58 (1). pp. 133-141. ISSN 1661-8556
Abstract
Objectives: We examined the extent to which the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and later life prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and visual impairment in Nakuru, Kenya is mediated by health-related behaviour. Methods: We used data from a community survey of 4,314 participants sampled from urban and rural areas in Nakuru, Kenya. Structural equation modelling was employed to estimate the direct and indirect—via health-related behaviour—effects of SEP on the three health outcomes. Results: The accumulation of material resources was positively associated with hypertension and diabetes, whereas both education and material resources had a negative association with the prevalence of visual impairment. However, the observed health inequalities were not due to variation between SEP groups in health-related behaviour. Conclusions: The pattern of associations between education, material resources and the three health outcomes varied, suggesting that in Kenya, unlike the observed pattern of inequalities in high income countries, different dimensions of SEP provide different aspects of protection as well as risk. Smoking and alcohol use did not appear to mediate the observed associations, in contrast with countries past the epidemiologic transition.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://link.springer.com/journal/38 |
| Additional Information: | © 2013 Springer, Part of Springer Science+Business Media |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Sets: | Departments > Social Policy Research centres and groups > ALPHA (Ageing, Lifecourse and Population Health Analysis) |
| Funders: | Medical Research Council |
| Projects: | Population Health Science fellowship—G0802442 |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Oct 2013 12:43 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/53868/ |
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