South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) 2011-12: Adult clinical examination - All provinces

Description:
The data set for dissemination contains 23 variables and 5615 cases of respondents aged 15 and older who participated in the SANHANES-1 Adult clinical examination, with a specific focus on information relating to blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Abstract:
The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) was established as a continuous population health survey to address the changing health needs in the country and provide a broader and more comprehensive platform to study the health status of the nation on a regular basis.

The SANHANES-1 project was conducted during 2011-12, involved a sample of 10,000 households (VPs). Among these, 8,166 households were deemed valid and occupied. Within these valid VPs/households that agreed to participate in the survey, 27 580 individuals were eligible to be interviewed. A total of 25 532 individuals (92.6%) completed the interview whilst 7.4% refused to participate. Those individuals who agreed to be interviewed were further invited to participate in the physical and clinical examination. Of those who were eligible,12 025 (43.6%) agreed to undergo physical examinations, and 8 078 (29.3%) consented to blood testing.

This survey provides critical information to map the emerging epidemic of NCDs in South Africa among other defined priorities of the National Department of Health and analyses their social, economic, behavioural and environmental determinants. Data on the magnitude of and trends in NCDs, as well as other existing/emerging health priorities, is essential to develop national prevention and control programmes, assessing the impact of interventions, and evaluating the health status of the country.

The primary objectives of the SANHANES-1 were to assess defined aspects of the health and nutritional status of South Africans with respect to the prevalence of NCDs (specifically cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension) and their risk factors (diet, physical activity and tobacco use):

The knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of South Africans with respect to NCDs and tuberculosis;

The nutritional status of South Africans as it relates to food security, dietary intake/ behaviour including alcohol consumption, body image and weight management;

The perceptions of general and mental health (stress and trauma) and healthcare services;

The health status of children under the age of five years;

The health status of children aged 2–9 years with respect to physical and/or mental disabilities;

The behavioural (smoking, diet, physical inactivity) and social determinants of health and nutrition (demographic, socio-economic status and locality) and relate these to the health and nutritional status of the population.