The food environment of students on a financial assistance programme at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Prevalence of health risk behaviours related to non-communicable diseases amongst South African university students: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Engagement in risk behaviours adopted during university continues after graduation, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence of NCD risk behaviours amongst South African university students.

METHODS

PubMed and Scopus databases were searched (January 1990-April 2022) for studies investigating alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical inactivity. Study qualities were assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal and levels of evidence checklists. An overall prevalence percentage was obtained for each risk behaviour.

RESULTS

A total of 50 studies (n = 26 624 students) were included. A range of 44.8-75.0% of students consumed inadequate servings of fruits and vegetables. Just over 54% consumed alcohol (95% confidence intervals [95%CI]:54.0-55.5%). A significantly higher percentage of males (44.2%) than females (25.8%) drank heavily (P < 0.001). Approximately one-third (34.8%, 95%CI:33.4-36.3%) were sedentary and 39.0% (95%CI:37.5-40.4%) were insufficiently active. Almost one-fifth (17.9%, 95%CI:17.3-18.5%) smoked cigarettes, being significantly more prevalent amongst males (21.8%) than females (13.5%) (P < 0.001). A total of 10% smoked 1-10 cigarettes/day and 1.2% smoked >10 cigarettes/day.

CONCLUSION

High percentages of South African students eat inadequate servings of fruits and vegetables, consume alcohol are physically inactive and smoke cigarettes. South African universities should implement screening measures and health campaigns.