Godfred Darko, Norbert Dampaak Satun
Approximately one in five women of reproductive age in the Ashanti Region was obese. Obesity was independently associated with household wealth, urban residence, and parity. These findings highlight the need for context-specific interventions addressing urban lifestyle changes, socioeconomic inequalities, and reproductive-related factors to reduce obesity risk among women in the region.
BACKGROUND: Obesity among women of reproductive age is an increasing public health concern and contributes to the burden of non-communicable diseases globally. Rapid urbanisation and lifestyle transitions may be contributing to rising obesity levels among women. However, limited region-specific evidence exists in the Ashanti Region. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of obesity among women aged 15-49 years in the Ashanti Region using data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).
METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed secondary data from the 2022 GDHS. A total of 578 women aged 15-49 years residing in the Ashanti Region were included after excluding pregnant women and respondents with missing anthropometric data. Survey-weighted descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to account for the complex sampling design. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.
RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity among women aged 15-49 years in the Ashanti Region was 22.0%. In the bivariate analysis, obesity was significantly associated with age, household wealth status, place of residence, employment status, and parity. After adjusting for potential confounders, women from poor households had significantly lower odds of obesity compared with those from rich households (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10-0.74). Women residing in urban areas had higher odds of obesity compared with rural residents (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.13-3.55). Additionally, women with no children had significantly lower odds of obesity compared with women with three or more children (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13-0.74).
CONCLUSION: Approximately one in five women of reproductive age in the Ashanti Region was obese. Obesity was independently associated with household wealth, urban residence, and parity. These findings highlight the need for context-specific interventions addressing urban lifestyle changes, socioeconomic inequalities, and reproductive-related factors to reduce obesity risk among women in the region.