Prevalence and Factors Associated with Diabetes in Côte d'Ivoire: a Cross-sectional Study in the Country's Adult Population

Objectives: To estimate the current prevalence of diabetes and identify associated factors in Côte d'Ivoire.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of 3198 adults aged 20-79 years. Risk factors were identified by stepwise ascending binary logistic regression. Successive models were compared using the likelihood ratio test.

Results: The survey population was predominantly female (55%) and lived in urban areas (55.38%). The prevalence of diabetes in Côte d'Ivoire was 6.2% [95% CI: 5.34 - 7.20]. Men (6.40%) and women (6.06%) have almost the same prevalence of diabetes, while urban areas (7.36%) have a higher prevalence than rural areas (4.56%). Factors significantly associated with this prevalence were age 60-79 years (AOR 1.61; P=0.028), male sex (AOR 1.56; P=0.020), high blood pressure (AOR 1.39; P=0. 048), family history of diabetes (AOR 2.5; P=0.000), abdominal obesity (waist circumference) (AOR 1.56; P=0.042), elevated triglycerides (AOR 3.30; P=0.000) and elevated LDL cholesterol (AOR 2.01; P=0.000). However, moderate and frequent alcohol consumption (AOR 0.63; P=0.009) was protective against diabetes.

Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes in Côte d'Ivoire is relatively high and continues to increase. Age at 60 years and above, alcohol consumption, hypertension, family history of diabetes, abdominal obesity through waist circumference, high Triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol are the factors associated with this prevalence. Interventions targeting associated modifiable risk factors are needed to reduce this increasing prevalence.