Comparison of Malnutrition Indicators and Associated Socio-Demographic Factors among Children in Rural and Urban Public Primary Schools in South Africa.

Most children in South Africa attending public schools are predisposed to malnutrition due to poor infrastructure and social inequality. This is despite the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme to address barriers to learning associated with hunger and malnutrition and the National Development Plan to reduce child malnutrition through provision of social grants. In view of this, we compared malnutrition indicators and associated socio-demographic factors among children in rural Mpumalanga and urban Gauteng in South African public primary schools selected using a multistage cluster random sampling.

A Longitudinal Investigation on the Effects of Sodium and Potassium Intake on the Development of Hypertension and Abdominal Obesity from Childhood to Young Adulthood amongst Ellisras Rural Population, South Africa.

Background: Hypertension (HT) and obesity have both been on the rise in children. Each is associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease risk, and both track into adulthood.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the association of sodium intake (Na), potassium (K) intake, and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio with the development of HT and abdominal obesity amongst the Ellisras rural population over time.

Investigation of the Seasonal Variation in Fat Patterning of Ellisras Rural Children and Adolescents, in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

An increase in childhood obesity has become a global concern since childhood obesity often leads to adulthood obesity. This study aimed to investigate whether there is seasonal variation in fat patterning, and whether fat patterning is associated with seasons among the Ellisras population aged 5-15 years. A total of 1986 children and adolescents (1034 boys and 952 girls) aged 5-15 enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Screening and Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Use of the Community Action Model.

The rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been attributed to economic growth in developing countries, shifts in societal norms, and behaviors such as dietary habits and physical activity. Up to 80% of NCDs could be prevented by eliminating shared risk factors, mainly tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and the harmful use of alcohol. The South African government's national strategic plan to control NCDs, which includes cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, places a strong emphasis on the need to improve the prevention, detection, early intervention, and management of NCDs.

Assessing the Association of Sodium, Potassium Intake and Sodium/Potassium Ratio on Blood Pressure and Central Adiposity Measurements amongst Ellisras Undernourished, Rural Children Aged 5-13 Years: South Africa.

Background: Numerous studies have shown how diet, such as sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intake, is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to assess the relationship between sodium intake, potassium intake; and sodium/potassium ratio with blood pressure (BP) and abdominal obesity amongst Ellisras rural children.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, data on dietary intake of sodium and potassium were collected using a 24-h recall questionnaire from a total of 765 participants, aged 5-13 years.

"Selected Papers from the 2nd Ellisras Longitudinal Study and Other Non-Communicable Diseases Studies International Conference" Special Issue Editorial.

Epidemics of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are presently emerging and on the increase in South Africa. It is increasingly recognized that the occurrence of adult chronic disease are influenced by factors operating from childhood, which are sustained throughout the individual's life course. Increased risk may start in infancy or even before birth and will continue to be influenced by health related behavior during adulthood.

Body Roundness Index, A Body Shape Index, Conicity Index, and Their Association with Nutritional Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in South African Rural Young Adults.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the association of Body Roundness Index (BRI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), and Conicity Index with nutritional status and cardiovascular risk factors in South African rural young adults.

Methods: The study included a total of 624 young adults aged 21-30 years from the Ellisras rural area. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure (BP), and biochemical measurements were measured.

The Relationship between Under-Nutrition and Hypertension among Ellisras Children and Adolescents Aged 9 to 17 Years.

: Globally, under-nutrition and hypertension in children has been associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between under-nutrition and hypertension, furthermore, to determine the risk of developing hypertension due to under-nutrition. : The study comprised of 1701 participants (874 boys and 827 girls) between the ages of 9 and 17 years old.

Obesity Indices to Use for Identifying Metabolic Syndrome among Rural Adults in South Africa.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic conditions that aggravate the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed to identify the best obesity index to determine MetS. This was a cross-sectional study and part of Ellisras Longitudinal Study where 593 (289 males and 304 females) adults aged 22-30 years took part.

The Relationship between Binge Drinking and Metabolic Syndrome Components amongst Young Adults Aged 21 to 31 Years: Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

Background: Evidence is lacking on the effects of binge alcohol consumption on metabolic syndrome in the rural South African population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between binge drinking and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) amongst Ellisras rural young adults aged 21 to 31 years who are part of the Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

Methods: Logistic regression analysis was applied to a total of 624 participants (306 males and 318 females) aged 21 to 31 years who took part in the Ellisras Longitudinal Study (ELS).

Hypertension Prevalence and Determinants among Black South African Adults in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas.

The burden of hypertension is reported to be on the rise in developing countries, such as South Africa, despite increased efforts to address it. Using a cross-sectional study design, we assessed and compared the prevalence of and risk factors associated with hypertension amongst adults aged ≥18 years in semi-urban and rural communities (1187 semi-urban and 1106 rural). Trained community health workers administered the INTERHEART Risk Score tool and performed blood pressure assessments using the MEDIC Pharmacists Choice Blood Pressure Monitor.

Multiple Points Change in the Association of Blood Pressure Subtypes with Anthropometric Indices of Adiposity among Children in a Rural Population.

Background: Hypertension has gained global significance and risk of cardiovascular disease, and adiposity is the most important of the conditions associated with and considered responsible for hypertension in children. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether indices of adiposity independently predicted blood pressure at multiple points in gender-specific groups.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 10 randomly selected primary schools within the Ellisras Longitudinal Study, and involved 1816 adolescents (876 girls and 940 boys) aged 8 to 17 years.

A Non-Invasive Investigation into the Prevalence of Higher than Normal Blood Pressure, Hypertension and the Association between Blood Pressure and Body Weight in Male and Female Adolescents in the Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo-South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hypertension (HT) is one of the greatest non-communicable diseases affecting both sexes in all human populations; and it is a major cause of death and morbidity across the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pre-hypertension, hypertension and investigate the association between blood pressure (BP) and body weight (looking into body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA)).

Method: A cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 13-19 years was conducted at three secondary schools consisting of 121 females and 97 males.

Using the SITAR Method to Estimate Age at Peak Height Velocity of Children in Rural South Africa: Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

Various studies have been conducted on children using the Ellisras Longitudinal Study Survey in South Africa, but none of these has addressed growth variations of children in this rural location. The aim of this paper is to assess the age at peak height velocity using the superimposition by translation and rotation (SITAR) method for both boys and girls in rural South Africa. The study is part of the on-going Ellisras Longitudinal Study, and has employed secondary data during the period from November 1996 to November 2003.

The Use of Alcohol and Knowledge of Cardiovascular Diseases among Ellisras Rural Children Aged 14-22 Years: Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

The harm alcohol abuse does to physical and mental health is well established. The perception of cardiovascular disease risk factors and alcohol use requires attention. This study aims to investigate the association between alcohol usage and knowledge of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors among Ellisras rural adolescents and young adults aged 14-22 years.

Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: Childhood underweight and blood pressure status in a rural black population of South Africa (ELS 26).

Aim: Childhood underweight is a problem being faced by rural black South African populations but little is known about its risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors related to childhood underweight in rural black South African children within the area known as Ellisras.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the ongoing Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study: how important is physical activity in youth for later health? (ELS 33).

Background: Three important results came from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study (AGAHLS). This study followed three birth cohorts (1962, 1963 and 1964) of boys and girls in the Amsterdam region in the Netherlands. The follow-up period was 25 years, with 10 measurements from age 12 to 42 years.

Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: the association of fat patterning with blood pressure in Polokwane private school children aged five to 15 years (ELS 22).

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases and is a global public health concern.

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the association of fat patterning and blood pressure among five- to 15-year-old black children attending private schools in Polokwane, South Africa, and to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension.

Methods: A total of 1 665 subjects (846 boys and 819 girls), aged five to 15 years and attending three private schools in Polokwane, were included in the study.

The value of community outreach for a University: a synthesis of trends in higher education The case of the University of Limpopo (ELS 45).

Background: The South African National Development Plan (SANDP) vision for 2030 highlights key recommendations for reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 28% by 2030. These are mirrored by the World Heart Federation, although it focuses on reducing the NCD prevalence by 25% by 2025. The targeted diseases include, among others, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.

Ellisras Longitudinal Study conference 2017: The relationship between dietary intake and body mass index among young rural adults in South Africa aged 18 to 30 years (ELS 18).

Aim: To assess the relationship between dietary intake and adiposity in young rural South African adults.

Methods: A total of 728 young adults participated and dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall method. Linear regression models were used to determine the association between dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) before and after adjustment for age and gender.

Dietary Fiber Intake and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors among Young South African Adults.

This study attempts to bridge the research gap regarding the importance of dietary fiber in reducing metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors in young rural South Africans. A total of 627 individuals (309 males and 318 females) aged 18–30 years participated in the study. Dietary intake was measured using a validated 24-h recall method.

The relationship between sitting height, sitting height to height ratio with blood pressure among Polokwane private school children aged 6-13 years.

Background: It is notable that sitting height (SH) correlates with blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents of developed countries. However, little is known about the relationships between SH and SH to height ratio (SH/H) with BP in South African children from middle and upper socio-economic groups. The purpose of this study was to compare SH and SH/H of private school attending children in the Polokwane area with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) reference population and to determine the relationship between SH, SH/H with BP among private school attending children.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Plasma Glucose Level amongst Ellisras Rural Young Adult Males and Females: Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

Unhealthy lifestyle characteristics such as low physical activity (PA) and high plasma glucose levels (PGLs) may lead to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the level of physical activity; (ii) the prevalence of pre-diabetes and (iii) the relationship between PA and plasma glucose level in a rural Ellisras adult population aged 18 to 28 years. A total of 713 young adults (349 males and 364 females) who took part in the Ellisras Longitudinal Study participated in the study.

Exposure to Agrochemicals and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review.

Introduction: In the agricultural world there is a continuous loss of food, fiber and other commodities due to pests, disease and weeds before harvesting time. These losses had create lots of financial burden to the farm owners that might lead to shutting down of their daily business. Worldwide, there is an overall very high loss of agricultural products due to weeds growth alone.