Browsing by Author "Owusu‑Dabo, E."

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    Differential associations between psychosocial stress and obesity among Ghanaians in Europe and in Ghana: findings from the RODAM study
    (Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2019-03-11) de‑Graft Aikins, A.; Baratin, C.; Beune, E.; van Schalkwijk, D.; Meeks, K.; Smeeth, L.; Addo, J.; Owusu‑Dabo, E.; Bahendeka, S.; Mockenhaupt, F.P.; Danquah, I.; Schulze, M.B.; Spranger, J.; Boateng, D.; Klipstein‑Grobusch, K.; Stronks, K.; Agyemang, C.
    Purpose Psychosocial stress is associated with obesity in some populations, but it is unclear whether the association is related to migration. This study explored associations between psychosocial stress and obesity among Ghanaian migrants in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians in Ghana. Methods Cross-sectional data from the RODAM study were used, including 5898 Ghanaians residing in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, rural Ghana, and urban Ghana. Perceived discrimination, negative life events and stress at work or at home were examined in relation to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Linear regression analyses were performed separately for migrants and non-migrants stratified by sex. Results Perceived discrimination was not associated with BMI and WC in both migrants and non-migrants. However, negative life events were positively associated with BMI (β = 0.78, 95% CI 0.34–1.22) and WC (β = 1.96, 95% CI 0.79–3.12) among male Ghanaian migrants. Similarly, stress at work or at home was positively associated with BMI (β = 0.28, 95% CI 0.00–0.56) and WC (β = 0.84, 95% CI 0.05–1.63) among male Ghanaian migrants. Among non-migrant Ghanaians, in contrast, stress at work or at home was inversely associated with BMI and WC in both males (β = − 0.66, 95% CI − 1.03 to − 0.28; β = − 1.71 95% CI − 2.69 to − 0.73, respectively) and females (β = − 0.81, 95% CI − 1.20 to − 0.42; β = − 1.46, 95% CI − 2.30 to − 0.61, respectively). Conclusions Negative life events and stress at work or at home are associated with increased body weight among male Ghanaians in European settings, whereas stress at work or at home is associated with reduced body weight among Ghanaians in Ghana. More work is needed to understand the underlying factors driving these differential associations to assist prevention efforts.
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    Is social support associated with hypertension control among Ghanaian migrants in Europe and non-migrants in Ghana? The RODAM study
    (Internal and Emergency Medicine, 2019-03-14) De‑Graft Aikins, A.; Nyaaba, G.N.; Stronks, K.; Meeks, K.; Beune, E.; Owusu‑Dabo, E.; Addo, J.; Mockenhaupt, F.; Bahendeka, S.; Klipstein‑Grobusch, K.; Smeeth, L.; Agyemang, C.
    Hypertension (HTN) control is crucial in preventing HTN-related complications such as stroke and coronary heart disease. Yet, HTN control remains suboptimal particularly among sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations partly due to poor selfmanagement. Self-management of HTN is influenced by social support, but the evidence on the role of social support on HTN control particularly among SSA populations is limited. This study assessed the association between multiple proxies for social support and HTN control among Ghanaians resident in Ghana and Europe. The Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study participants with HTN and who self-reported HTN (n = 1327) were included in this analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between proxies of social support and HTN control (SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg) with adjustments for age and socioeconomic status (SES). Among Ghanaian males in both Europe and Ghana, cohabiting with more than two persons was associated with increased odds of having HTN controlled. Male hypertensive patients cohabiting with ≥ 5 persons had the highest odds of having HTN controlled after adjustment for age and SES (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.16–0.57; 0.60; 0.34–1.04, respectively). This association was not observed among females. Relationship status, frequency of religious activity attendance and satisfaction with social support did not show any significant association with HTN control. Our study shows that cohabitation is significantly associated with HTN control but in males only. The other proxies for social support appeared not to be associated with HTN control. Involving persons living with Ghanaian men with HTN in the treatment process may help to improve adherence to HTN treatment. Further research is needed to explore in-depth, how these social support proxies could contribute to improved HTN control among SSA populations.