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Non-communicable disease comorbidities (NCDCs) among youth in South Africa: the causal contribution of not being in school or work and other socioeconomic characteristics

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Abstract

Aim

The purpose of this study is to examine the causal factors associated with non-communicable disease comorbidity (NCDC) development among youth in South Africa.

Subject and methods

Data are from the South African National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS) in 2007 and 2017. In 2007, 1103 youths had one NCD and 297 had developed NCDC by 2017. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of youth are controlled for, and frequency distributions are used to show the profile of youth with NCDCs. A logistic regression model showing odds ratios (OR) is fit to determine the causal factors.

Results

More females (55.06%) than males (41.07%) develop NCDC. Further, in 2017, 91.25% of youth who were not in school and not employed had NCDC. The likelihood of NCDC progression is higher for those not in education and not employed (OR: 1.455, CI: 1.256079–1.692377), females (OR: 1.343; CI: 0.843291–1.503960), and youth with no medical aid or insurance (OR: 1.245, CI: 1.013948–1.502166).

Conclusion

The results of this study highlight social inequalities that need to be addressed in order for youth who are already diagnosed with one NCD to prevent further disease development. Policies and programmes engaged in the National Health Insurance debate should be aware that through non-medical responses, the potential strain of NCDCs on the system could be prevented.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was received from the South African National Research Foundation (NRF).

Funding

This study was funded by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) (grant number 116326).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Demography and Population Studies Department, Schools of Social Sciences and Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2001, South Africa

    Nicole De Wet-Billings & Sasha Frade

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  1. Nicole De Wet-Billings
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  2. Sasha Frade
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Nicole De Wet-Billings; Methodology: Nicole De Wet-Billings, Sasha Frade; Formal analysis and investigation: Nicole De Wet-Billings, Sasha Frade; Writing — original draft preparation: Nicole De Wet-Billings; Writing — review and editing: Sasha Frade; Funding acquisition: Nicole De Wet-Billings; Resources: Nicole De Wet-Billings, Sasha Frade; Supervision: None.

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Correspondence to Nicole De Wet-Billings.

Ethics declarations

Ethics statement

As this study involved only secondary analyses of the NIDS dataset, separate ethical approval for this study was not necessary. However, ethical approval for NIDS was granted by the University of Cape Town (UCT) Commerce Faculty Ethics Committee. The NIDS data collectors administered a written informed consent process with all participants, and only proceeded with interviews once this process was complete and they were satisfied that the participant fully understood all aspects of the research. In the case of minors, adult caregivers provided consent on their behalf.

Conflict of interest

Nicole De Wet-Billings and Sasha Frade have no conflicts to disclose.

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De Wet-Billings, N., Frade, S. Non-communicable disease comorbidities (NCDCs) among youth in South Africa: the causal contribution of not being in school or work and other socioeconomic characteristics. J Public Health (Berl.) 30, 1205–1212 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01398-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01398-6

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