In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases and malnutrition constitute the
main health problems in children, while adolescents and adults are
increasingly facing cardio-metabolic conditions. Among adolescents as the
largest population group in this region, we investigated the co-occurrence of
infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors (CRFs),
and evaluated demographic, socio-economic and medical risk factors for these
entities. In a cross-sectional study among 188 adolescents in rural Ghana,
malarial infection, common infectious diseases and Body Mass Index were
assessed. We measured ferritin, C-reactive protein, retinol, fasting glucose
and blood pressure. Socio-demographic data were documented. We analyzed the
proportions (95% confidence interval, CI) and the co-occurrence of infectious
diseases (malaria, other common diseases), malnutrition (underweight,
stunting, iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency [VAD]), and CRFs (overweight,
obesity, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension). In logistic regression, odds
ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated for the associations with socio-
demographic factors. In this Ghanaian population (age range, 14.4–15.5 years;
males, 50%), the proportions were for infectious diseases 45% (95% CI:
38–52%), for malnutrition 50% (43–57%) and for CRFs 16% (11–21%). Infectious
diseases and malnutrition frequently co-existed (28%; 21–34%). Specifically,
VAD increased the odds of non-malarial infectious diseases 3-fold (95% CI:
1.03, 10.19). Overlap of CRFs with infectious diseases (6%; 2–9%) or with
malnutrition (7%; 3–11%) was also present. Male gender and low socio-economic
status increased the odds of infectious diseases and malnutrition,
respectively. Malarial infection, chronic malnutrition and VAD remain the
predominant health problems among these Ghanaian adolescents. Investigating
the relationships with evolving CRFs is warranted