Aging is a phenomenon that every human being experiences. However, the aging process can affect people differently depending on different factors such as race, gender, and lifestyle. Middle age is an important time in an individual’s life when they are at an increased risk for various ranges of health issues. For African people, this is especially true given the high rates of chronic diseases within the population. The health of middle-aged African people has been a topic of interest in recent years. Studies have shown that this population is at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer compared to other populations. In this review, we will explore the current state of health among middle-aged African people, the factors influencing their health, and interventions to improve their health outcomes.The first study we will review is from the article “Connected Lives: Families, households, health and care in contemporary South Africa” by Mkhwanazi N. & Manderson L. (2020) which examined the prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity among middle-aged adults in South Africa. The article showed that 48.5% of middle-aged adults had two or more chronic conditions,and that the most common combinations were hypertension and diabetes, followed by hypertension and arthritis. According to another research from the article “Diabetes diagnosis and care in sub-Saharan Africa: pooled analysis of individual data from 12 countries” by GoehlerJ.M. (2016), the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is higher in African countries than in developed countries. The study also revealed that the risk of developing diabetes mellitus increases with age. Regular health check-ups and lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and regular physical exercise is what is needed to manage and prevent diabetes mellitus among middle-aged Africans.The second study is from the article “Evidence of Care of the Aged in Ghanaian Communities—A Scoping Review” by Aboderin I.R. & Beard J. ( 2015) and this article focuses on the health of middle-aged and older people in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity of the African population, and notes that health outcomes vary widely depending on factors such as location, gender, and socioeconomic status. The article emphasizes the need for tailored interventions that take into account these factors in order to improve health outcomes for middle-aged and older Africans. Similarly, another study conducted by Cené

eating habits can help as possible interventions for hypertension among middle-aged Africans.The fourth study made from the article “Development of an integrated, evidence-based management model for chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, in a rural area of Limpopo Province, South Africa” by Maimela (2016) explores the relationship between socioeconomic status and health among middle-aged South Africans. The article demonstrated that lower levels of education and income were associated with poorer health outcomes, including a higher showing of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The article emphasizes the need Various interventions can be implemented to prevent and manage the health challenges that middle-aged Africans face. One possible intervention is lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and reducing alcohol and tobacco use. The third study, from the article “Self-reported cataracts in older adults in Ghana: sociodemographic and health related factors” by Yawson, A.E., Ackuaku-Dogbe, E.M., Seneadza, N.A.H. (2014) examines the prevalence of hypertension among middle-aged Ghanaians. The study found that hypertension was highly prevalent in this population, affecting 46% of participants. The study identified a range of risk factors for hypertension, including age, sex, obesity, physical inactivity, and a family history of hypertension, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address theserisk factors in order to prevent hypertension and improve health outcomes for middle-aged Ghanaians, investigating the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention program in improving the health outcomes of middle-aged African men. The intervention included dietary changes and increased physical activity. That study found that the program resulted in a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, particularly those living in urban areas. The study found that 32.9% of middle-aged Ghanaians had hypertension, and the prevalence was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The study also revealed that hypertension was associated with lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Therefore, lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and healthy the major barriers to good health outcomes, and that discriminarauthors found that socio-economic factors such as poation and raciesm playied ad ysignificant ole in the helth disparitis experence bkcal dna ytrevm2020) examined the factors that.noita lupop siht ehT .snacire(A nacirfA dega-elddim fo htlaeh eht decneulfni of access to healthcare were

also noted that lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets and physical inactivity were the major contributors to these chronic diseases. A state of mental health among middle-aged Africans are also factors to encourage these diseases amongst the people, finding depression to be a prevalent mental health condition in this population, while also noting factors such as poverty, social isolation, and discrimination contributed to the high prevalence of depression.Another health challenge that affects middle-aged Africans is mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. According to research from “Utilization of Health Facility–Based Delivery Service Among Mothers in Gindhir District, Southeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study” by Zenbaba D. (2021), depression and anxiety are prevalent among middle-aged Ethiopian women. The study found that 14.6% of the women surveyed had depression, while 9.8% had anxiety. The authors recommend the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare to prevent and manage mental health disorders among middle-aged Africans. Middle-aged Africans are also at risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent among middle-aged Africans, particularly those living in urban areas. Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and tobacco use were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The authors recommend lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and healthy eating habits as possible interventions for preventing cardiovascular diseases among middle-aged AfricansAn honorable mention article called “Prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity among adults in Botswana: A cross-sectional study” by Keetile M. (2020) focused on assessing the prevalence of chronic diseases among middle-aged African people. The study found that hypertension, diabetes, and obesity were the most prevalent chronic diseases in this population. The authors reduction in healthcare costs.disease self-management program in improvinnauthors found that the program resulted in a significat improvement in glycgorder to improve health outcomes for middle-aged South Africans, trying the effeAAmericans with diabetes. The pr ogram involved education, skills trainin, and suppor fo ssenevitcfrican health outcomes of middle-aged or a dg thena lortntoc cime ehT .fni ,emocni dna noitacude sa hcus ,htlaeh fo stnanimreted laicos sserdda taht snoitnevretnia

In conclusion, the health of middle-aged African people is influenced by a range of factors including socio-economic status, lifestyle factors, and access to healthcare. Interventions such as lifestyle changes and disease management programs have been shown to improve health outcomes in this population. However, more needs to be done to address the underlying social determinants of health and reduce health disparities among this population. Healthcare providers and policymakers should work together to develop and implement strategies that promote health equity and improve the health outcomes of middle-aged African people. These articles shown highlight the significant health challenges facing middle-aged African people, including high rates of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The studies also identify a range of risk factors for poor health outcomes, including socioeconomic status, gender, and obesity. However, the studies also point to potential interventions and areas for further research, such as targeted interventions that address social determinants of health and promote social support. By taking these findings into account, researchers and policymakers can work together to improve health outcomes for middle-aged African people and promote greater health equity.

References:

Mkhwanazi N. & Manderson L. (2020). Connected lives: families households health and care insouth africa . HSRC Press.Manne-Goehler, J., Atun, R., Stokes, A., Goehler, A., Houinato, D., Houehanou, C., Hambou, M. M., Mbenza, B. L., Sobngwi, E., Balde, N., Mwangi, J. K., Gathecha, G., Ngugi, P. W., Wesseh, C. S., Damasceno, A., Lunet, N., Bovet, P., Labadarios, D., Zuma, K., Mayige, M., … Bärnighausen, T. (2016). Diabetes diagnosis and care in sub-Saharan Africa: pooled analysis ofindividual data from 12 countries. The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 4(11), 903–912.Aboderin, I.R. and Beard, J. (2015) Older People’s Health in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Lancet, 385, e9-e11.Yawson, A.E., Ackuaku-Dogbe, E.M., Seneadza, N.A.H., Mensah, G., Minicuci, N., Naidoo, N.,Chatterji, S., Kowal, P. and Biritwum, R.B. (2014) Self-Reported Cataracts in Older Adults in Ghana: Sociodemographic and Health Related Factors. BMC Public Health, 14, 949.Maimela, E., Alberts, M., Bastiaens, H. et al. Interventions for improving management of chronic non-communicable diseases in Dikgale, a rural area in Limpopo Province, South Africa.BMC Health Serv Res 18, 331 (2018).Zenbaba, D., Sahiledengle, B., Dibaba, D., & Bonsa, M. (2021). Utilization of Health Facility-Based Delivery Service Among Mothers in Gindhir District, Southeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing, 58, 469580211056061.Keetile M, Navaneetham K, Letamo G (2020) Prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity among adults in Botswana: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE 15(9): e0239334