2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Framework of the Study
The study was carried out on the various sites housing Ministry of Labor and Public Service (MTFP) workers and spread across all departments. Constituting one of the twenty-four ministries of the Government of the Republic of Benin, this ministry is composed of:
Structures directly attached to the minister;
People and services directly attached to the minister;
Minister’s office;
General Secretariat of the Ministry;
Central management;
Technical directions;
Organization under supervision.
2.2. Study Methods
1) Type and period of study
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with analytical purposes. The investigation took place over a period of four (04) months, from August 16 to December 17, 2023.
2) Study population
The study population consisted of the Ministry of Labor and Public Service civil servants.
3) Inclusion criteria
Be an employee of the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service in 2023 and have given informed consent to participate in the study.
4) Non-inclusion criteria
Be admitted to retirement or be a worker on mission or be a worker on leave.
5) Sampling
Sample size
The sample size was calculated with the following Schwartz formula:
p = 77.7% (Prevalence of overweight among bankers in the city of Arusha, Tanzania)
[10]
,
n = sample size,
Zα = 1.96, which is the reduced deviation for a risk of error α = 5%,
q = 100 − p and p = 77.7%,
i = 0.05 (desired precision),
n = 266 workers,
A margin of 10% was applied to this size; hence, N = 292 workers.
Sampling technique
The sampling used is non-probabilistic, with exhaustive selection of all subjects meeting the inclusion criteria.
6) Variables
Overweight: is considered overweight any worker with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2 (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2).
Overweight includes overweight (25 kg/m2, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m²).
Overweight was dichotomized into yes and no for the purposes of analysis.
The independent variables were related to:
Socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, number of children);
Occupational characteristics (workstation, sedentary work, means of travel to work). Workstations were subdivided into three (03) categories:
Execution position;
Design level A: design, management and senior management positions;
Design level B: middle management, application and drafting positions.
Lifestyle characteristics (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleep duration). Physical activity was classified into three (03) categories: intense physical activity (at least 30 min of activity per day), moderate physical activity (physical activity two to three times per week), low physical activity (one or no physical activity per week).
Sleep duration was divided into two phases: less than eight (08) hours and greater than or equal to eight (08) hours (Simon R. et al., 2005).
Characteristics related to workers’ diet (daily eating practices, meal frequency, type of meal). For these last two types of characteristics, two criteria were used: frequently, which corresponds to several times a week, and rarely, which represents at most once a week.
Anthropometric characteristics (weight, height, BMI);
Family history of overweight (overweight ascendants, overweight collaterals. Ascendants refer to siblings, while collaterals refer to brothers and sisters, cousins and aunts and uncles. The term “generally” refers to more than half the people concerned.
2.3. Data Collection Techniques and Tools
1) Data collection tools
The data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to the respondents.
A pre-test of the questionnaire was carried out to ensure clarity and make adjustments if necessary in order to have a definitive interview guide. The author had to test the validity and reliability of the questionnaire with a sample of around ten workers.
Anthropometric data was collected using physical measuring instruments such as mechanical scales for adults [model 761, SECA] and mobile measuring rods graduated, respectively for weight and height measurements.
The other data was collected by declaration from the worker.
The questionnaire contained 76 items divided into six (06) sections. The data collected concerned sociodemographic, professional, anthropometric, behavioral, sociocultural characteristics and medical history.
2) Data collection techniques
Prerequisites for data collection.
The collection phase was preceded by training of interviewers on questionnaire administration techniques so that they are able to properly explain the different questions to the workers selected as part of our study to collect the right information.
Contact was made with the authorities at various levels to explain the objectives of the study to them. A work schedule has been drawn up for the project.
3) Performing data collection
The investigators collected the information at the different sites in the study setting.
At the end of each working day, the completeness and consistency of the data were checked.
2.4. Statistical Analysis
The data were analyzed with R 4.0.4 software. Proportions and their confidence intervals were calculated for qualitative variables. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation. The normality of the distribution was checked with the Shapiro test.
A bivariate analysis followed by a multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression was carried out to search for associated factors. The choice of variables to enter into the initial model was made on the basis of the literature review and statistical tests. The initial model included the variables at the 20% conservation threshold after the bivariate analyses, as well as the interaction terms with the main explanatory variable. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and its 95% confidence interval [95% CI] were used as a measure of association. The significance level was less than 0.05.
2.5. Considerations Ethical
Authorization was requested and obtained from the Minister of Labor and Civil Service before the start of the study. Individual informed consent was obtained from each participant. The data was collected and processed with respect for confidentiality and human rights.
Appendix
SURVEY ON THE DETERMINANTS OF OVERWEIGHT AND ASSOCIATED MORBIDITY IN THE PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN BENIN IN 2023: CASE OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND PUBLIC SERVICE
QUIZ
1) Name of the investigator: ______________________________________________________________________
2) N˚ socket: /___/___/___/
3) Date: /___/___/ /___/___/ /___/___/ ___/___/
4) N˚ IT: /___/___/___/ /___/___/___/
I. SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
5) Date of birth: /__/__ / /__/__/ /__/__/__/__/
6) Age: /__/__/ years (completed age)
7) Gender: Male /___/ Female /___/
8) Ethnic origin: ________________________________________________________________________________
9) Marital status: Single /___/ Cohabitation /___/ Married /___/ Divorced /___/ Widowed /___/
10) Number of children: /__/__/
II. PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION
11) Professional qualification
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12) Orientation
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13) Workstation
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
III. ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS
14) Weight: /___/___/___/kg
15) Size: /___/___/___/m
16) Blood pressure: /___/___/___/ /___/___/___/ mmHg
17) Waist measurement: /___/___/___/ m
IV. BEHAVIORAL INFORMATION
A. Eating habits
18) How often do you eat peanuts and peanut products (roasted peanuts, kluiklui, nouga, konkada)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
19) How often do you eat poultry (chicken, duck, turkey, guinea fowl)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
20) How often do you eat red meat (beef, mutton, goat, pork)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
21) How often do you eat eggs?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
22) How often do you consume dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
23) How often do you eat vegetables (amaranth, nightshade, fotètè, lettuce, eggplant, cucumber, cabbage, carrot)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
24) How often do you eat fruits (orange, papaya, mango, guava, pineapple, tangerine, apple, etc.)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
25) How often do you eat pasta (corn, yam, millet, spaghetti, etc.)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
26) How often do you consume soft drinks (coca-cola, Pepsi, Fizzi, Fanta, spirits, mocha)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
27) How often do you consume sugary drinks (coca-cola, Pepsi, Fizzi, Fanta, Sprite, Mocha, syrup, fruit juice)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
28) How often do you add sugar to your food or drinks?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
29) How often do you eat sweet foods (candy, nougat, sweet snacks, sweet bread, sweet biscuits, cakes)?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
30) How often do you eat chocolate?
Every day /___/ Several times a week /___/ Once a week /___/
Several times a month /___/ Once a month /___/ Rarely/never /___/
31) How many meals do you eat per day? /___/
32) Where do you eat these meals? (home, canteen, outside)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
33) Do you ever snack? yes /___/ no /___/
34) If yes, what?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
35) How often?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Physical activities
36) Here are five levels of activities; check the box that suits you best, i.e., what you do most often (single choice).
| Profile |
Example |
Level of activities |
Choice |
| Extremely inactive |
No physical activity |
1 |
|
| Sedentary |
Less than 30 minutes of activity per day |
2 |
|
| Moderately active |
Walking, gardening or equivalent, gymnastics, yoga |
3 |
|
| Vigorously active |
Person doing two hours of
swimming
or other physical activities each day |
4 |
|
| Very active |
Regularly participates in
competitions
|
5 |
|
C. Sedentary lifestyle
37) How many hours do you usually spend watching TV per day? ________________________________________
38) How many hours do you usually spend in front of the computer per day? ______________________________
39) How many hours do you spend in a fixed position (sitting, standing, etc.) during the day?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
D. Sleep duration
40) At what time do you usually sleep in the evening? __________________________________________________
41) What time do you usually wake up in the morning? ________________________________________________
E. Alcoholism
42) Do you drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, soda)? Yes /___/ No /___/
43) If yes, how often? Times a day /___/ Times a week /___/
44) How many drinks do you drink per day? _________________________________________________________
F. Smoking
45) Do you use tobacco? Yes /___/ No /___/
46) In what form? Cigarettes /___/ Powdered tobacco /___/
47) How many cigarettes per day?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
48) How often do you consume them? Times a day /___/ Times a week /___/
G. Drink coffee
49) Do you drink coffee? Yes /___/ No /___/
50) If yes, how many cups per day? _________________________________________________________________
H. Taking medication
51) Do you take any medications? Yes /___/ No /___/
52) If yes, since when? ___________________________________________________________________________
53) Name the medications you are taking:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
54) Are you taking medication to prevent pregnancy? Yes /___/ No /___/
55) If yes, which ones? ___________________________________________________________________________
56) Do you take medication to avoid fatigue or work better? Yes /___/ No /___/
57) If yes, which ones? ___________________________________________________________________________
V. SOCIOCULTURAL INFORMATION
58) Do you often feel stressed as a family? Yes /__/ No /__/
59) Do you often feel stressed around your superiors? Yes /___/ No /___/
60) Do you often feel stressed around your colleagues or collaborators? Yes /___/ No /___/
61) Are your professional responsibilities causing you stress? Yes /___/ No /___/
62) If so, what do you do in any of these cases? (nibble, lie down, …)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
63) What do you think about overweight and obesity?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
64) Do you know the consequences of being overweight? Yes /___/ No /___/
65) If so, cite them. _____________________________________________________________________________
66) Is one of your parents obese? Yes /___/ No /___/
67) Are your family members generally obese? Yes /___/ No /___/
68) What status do you have in the house where you live? Owner /___/ Tenant /___/ Family home /___/
69) Do you have land? Yes /___/ No /___/
70) What is your lighting source? Electric energy /___/ Battery lamp /___/ Oil lamp /___/
71) What is your source of energy for cooking?
Electricity /___/ Gas /___/ Coal /___/ Wood /___/ Oil stove /___/
72) What is your means of information? Television /___/ Radio /___/ Both /___/ None /___/
73) What is your means of communication? Landline /___/ Mobile phone /___/ Internet /___/ None /___/
74) What is your means of transport? Car /__/ Motorcycle /__/ Bike /__/ Walking /__/
75) What is your source of water supply? SONEB /__/ Well /__/ Drilling /__/
76) What is the floor in your house made of? Cement /___/ Sand /___/ Tiles /___/
77) What type of toilet do you use?
Improved private toilets (flush latrines, ventilated pit latrines) /___/
Basic toilets (facilities shared with others, no toilets, unventilated pit latrines) /___/
VI. MEDICAL INFORMATION
78) Do you suffer from one or more of the following illnesses?
(Circle the letters corresponding to your positive answers):
a) Heart failure or coronary artery disease
b) Respiratory failure
c) Diabetes
d) HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HBP)
e) Gonarthrosis or coxarthrosis
f) Spinal pain
g) Depression
h) Paralysis of one (or more) limbs
The designer is the author.