Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to childhood stunting, wasting and underweight in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is known that stunting is the most prevalent deficiency. Child undernutrition is manifest in poor communities but is a modifiable risk factor. The intention of the study was to quantify trends in the indicators of child undernutrition to aid policymakers.

Estimating the changing disease burden attributable to iron deficiency in South Africa, 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Worldwide, iron deficiency, and consequent iron-deficiency anaemia, remains the most common nutritional disorder. Iron-deficiency anaemia mostly affects young children and women of reproductive age, especially in Asia and Africa. Iron deficiency may contribute to disability directly or indirectly as a risk factor for other causes of death, and may rarely contribute to death.

Estimating the changing disease burden attributable to smoking in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Ongoing quantification of the disease burden attributable to smoking is important to monitor and strengthen tobacco control policies.

Objectives: To estimate the attributable burden due to smoking in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Methods: We estimated attributable burden due to smoking for selected causes of death in South African (SA) adults aged ≥35 years for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to high systolic blood pressure in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Ongoing quantification of trends in high blood pressure and the consequent disease impact are crucial for monitoring and decision-making. This is particularly relevant in South Africa (SA) where hypertension is well-established.

Objective: To quantify the burden of disease related to high systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SA for 2000, 2006 and 2012, and describe age, sex and population group differences.

Rural-Urban Differences in Diabetes Care and Control in 42 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-sectional Study of Nationally Representative Individual-Level Data.

Objective: Diabetes prevalence is increasing rapidly in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but there are limited data on the performance of health systems in delivering equitable and effective care to rural populations. We therefore assessed rural-urban differences in diabetes care and control in LMICs.

Research Design And Methods: We pooled individual-level data from nationally representative health surveys in 42 countries.