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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted varied policy responses globally, with LatinAmerica facing unique challenges. A detailed examination of these policies’ impacts on healthsystems is crucial, particularly in Bolivia, where information about policy implementation andoutcomes is limited.

Objective: To describe the COVID-19 testing trends and evaluate the effects of quarantinemeasures on these trends in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Methods: Utilizing COVID-19 testing data from the Cochabamba Department Health Servicefor the 2020–2022 period. Stratified testing rates in the health system sectors were firstestimated followed by an interrupted time series analysis using a quasi-Poisson regressionmodel for assessing the quarantine effects on the mitigation of cases during surge periods.

Results: The public sector reported the larger percentage of tests (65%), followed by theprivate sector (23%) with almost double as many tests as the public-social security sector(11%). In the time series analysis, a correlation between the implementation of quarantinepolicies and a decrease in the slope of positive rates of COVID-19 cases was observedcompared to periods without or with reduced quarantine policies.

Conclusion: This research underscores the local health system disparities and the effective-ness of stringent quarantine measures in curbing COVID-19 transmission in the Cochabambaregion. The findings stress the importance of the measures’ intensity and duration, providingvaluable lessons for Bolivia and beyond. As the global community learns from the pandemic,these insights are critical for shaping resilient and effective health policy responses.

Leishmaniases are zoonotic diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In Bolivia, leishmaniasis occurs mainly in the cutaneous form (CL) followed by the mucosal or mucocutaneous form (ML or MCL), grouped as tegumentary leishmaniosis (TL), while cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are rare. The cases of TL are routinely diagnosed by parasitological methods: Direct Parasitological Exam (DPE) and axenic culture, the latter being performed only by specialized laboratories. The aim of the present study was to optimize the parasitological diagnosis of TL in Bolivia, using two sampling methods. Samples from 117 patients with suspected TL, obtained by aspiration (n = 121) and scraping (n = 121) of the edge of the lesion were tested by: direct parasitological exam, culture in TSTB medium, and miniculture and microculture in Schneider's medium. A positive laboratory result by any of the four techniques evaluated using either of the two sampling methods was considered the gold standard. Of the 117 suspected patients included, TL was confirmed in 96 (82 %), corresponding 79 of the confirmed cases (82.3 %) to CL and 16 (16.7 %) to ML. Parasitological techniques specificity was 100 % and their analytical sensitivity was greater with scraping samples in TSTB culture (98 %). Scraping samples in TSTB and miniculture correlated well with the reference (Cohen's kappa coefficient=0.88) and showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient ≥0.91). Microculture provided positive results earlier than the other culture methods (mean day 4.5). By day 14, 98 % of positive cultures had been detected. Scraping sampling and miniculture were associated with higher culture contamination (6 % and 17 %, respectively). Bacterial contamination predominated, regardless of the sampling and culture method, while filamentous fungi and mixed contamination were more frequently observed in cultures from scraping samples. In conclusion: (i) scraping samples proved more suitable for the diagnosis of TL as they increased analytical sensitivity, are less traumatic for the patient and are safer for laboratory personnel than aspirates; (ii) culture, mainly in TSBT medium, should be used for the diagnosis of TL due to its high sensitivity (doubling the number of cases diagnosed by DPE) and its low cost compared to other culture media.

Background: The increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is considered one of the most important public health problems in Latin American (LA) countries. Accordingly, an accurate and comprehensive picture of the CVRFs situation is needed to prevent CVDs and consequently support the development of health policies to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. 

Objective: To estimate the distribution of CVRFs and to examine social inequalities in these factors in Cochabamba – Bolivia to provide useful information for public health practice and decision-making. 

Methods: This thesis is based on four studies that used quantitative and qualitative methods. For sub-studies 1, 2, and 3, the data collection procedure was based on the Pan-American version (V2.0) of the WHO STEPS approach adapted to the Bolivian context. Between 2015 and 2016; 10,754 individuals aged over 18 years old were surveyed. To sub-study 1, the prevalence of relevant behavioural risk factors and anthropometric measures were calculated, and then odds ratios were estimated for each CVRFs. Regarding sub-study  2, an intersectionality approach based on the method suggested by Jackson et al. was used to analyze the ethnic and gender inequalities in obesity followed by the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to estimate the contributions of explanatory factors underlying the observed intersectional disparities. For sub-study 3, bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were carried out to analyze the association between access to CVDs healthcare and to preventive activities for CVRFs, with demographic and socioeconomic factors, and healthcare needs. Finally, to sub-study 4, in-depth interviews were conducted among 14 key informants focusing on aspects related to the implementation process of the CVDs policy. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main findings: Our findings revealed that Cochabamba had a high prevalence of CVRFs, with significant variations among the different socio-demographic groups. Indigenous populations and those living in the Andean region showed, in general, a lower prevalence for most of the risk factors studied. The prevalence of the metabolic risk factors were:  overweight (35.84%); obesity (20.49%); abdominal obesity (54.13%); and raised blood pressure (17.5%). It is important to highlight that 40.7% of participants had four or more CVRFs simultaneously.Dually and singly disadvantaged groups (Indigenous women, Indigenous men, and mestizo women) were less obese than the dually advantaged group (mestizo men). The joint disparity showed that the obesity prevalence was 7.26 percentage points higher in the doubly advantaged mestizo men than in the doubly disadvantaged Indigenous women. The lower prevalence of obesity in the doubly disadvantaged group of Indigenous women was mainly due to ethnic differences alone. Health behaviours were important factors in explaining the intersectional inequalities, while differences in socioeconomic and demographic factors played a less important role.The analysis also suggested a horizontal inequity in education, job status, region, and health insurance ownership regarding access to healthcare for CVDs and preventive activities for CVRFs. In the case of healthcare access, a lower probability of accessing healthcare for those with no formal education (OR=0.63; 95% CI=0.49-0.82) compared to those with higher education was found. Participation in preventive activities was significantly less among those with low educational levels, with the lowest participation observed in people with no formal education (OR=0.51; 95% CI=0.40-0.63). Individuals who were retired (OR=0.72; 95% CI=0.53-0.99), and those living in the Andean (OR=0.51; 95% CI=0.44-0.60) and Southern cone (OR=0.53; 95% CI=0.45-0.64) also displayed lower odds of participation. 

The challenges highlighted for the implementation of the CVDs policy in the Bolivian primary healthcare system were: the importance of i) local research, ii) a functional surveillance system, iii) effective leadership and coordination, iv) investments in municipal and community-level initiatives, and v) the need for health personnel capacity building. 

Conclusion: The prevalence of all CVRFs in Cochabamba was high, and nearly two-thirds of the population reported four or more risk factors simultaneously. The intersectional disparities illustrate that abdominal obesity was not distributed according to expected patterns of structural disadvantages in the intersectional spaces of ethnicity and gender in Bolivia. While vertical equity was observed in access to healthcare and in the participation of preventive activities, a horizontal inequity regarding education, region, and health insurance ownership was found. In addition, our findings highlighted five main challenges in the implementation of the CVDs policy in the Bolivian primary healthcare system; including local research; a functional surveillance system; leadership and governance; investment in municipal and community-level; and Health personnel for the implementation of CVD policy and its prevention strategies. The information generated by this study provides evidence for health policymakers at the regional level to carry out specific interventions to prevent CVDRFs both at the population and at the individual level. It is important to understand the contribution of socioeconomic factors and health needs in the process of formulating strategies that seek to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare in Cochabamba and nationally.

In May 2023, the WHO lifts the declaration of an international health emergency due to Covid-19, but Bolivia continues to maintain the declaration of a national health emergency.

Objective: describe the epidemiological situation by Covid-19 in Bolivia compared to South American countries.

Methodology: Observational study of ecological type was conducted; with aggregated data at the departmental and national level, from the reports of the Bolivian Ministry of Health and the WHO. Absolute frequencies, percentages, and rates of incidence, mortality, lethality, and vaccination coverage are reported, broken down by country and department.

Results: In the South American context, Bolivia ranks 6th in the number of cumulative confirmed cases (n=1,198,404); 7th in the number of deaths (n=22,383), 5th in lethality (1.9%), and 9th in vaccination coverage (52.08%) from ten countries. A decreasing trend is observed in Bolivia, between the first epidemic wave (n=144,592) to the 6th wave (n=88,859); Santa Cruz reported the most cases (n=4037,908) and Pando the lowest (n=15,081). The incidence rate was highest in Tarija and lowest in Potosí. The fatality rate was higher in the first wave (6.20%) and lower in the sixth wave (0.20%). Vaccination coverage with at least one dose was higher in Tarija (75.10%), and the lowest in Beni (57.10%).

Conclusion: Bolivia presents a significant decrease in the total number of new cases reported, with a decrease in the mortality and lethality rate; however, full-schedule vaccination coverage and booster doses continue to be one of the lowest in South America.

En mayo 2023, la OMS levanta la declaratoria de emergencia sanitaria internacional por Covid-19, pero Bolivia continúa manteniendo la declaratoria de emergencia sanitaria nacional.

Objetivo: describir la situación epidemiológica por Covid-19 en Bolivia en comparación a los países sudamericanos.

Metodología: Estudio observacional de tipo ecológico; con datos agregados a nivel departamental y nacional, provenientes de los reportes del Ministerio de Salud de Bolivia y la OMS. Se reportan frecuencias absolutas, porcentajes y tasas de incidencia, mortalidad, letalidad y las coberturas de vacunación, desagregadas por países, departamentos.

Resultados: A nivel sudamericano, Bolivia ocupa el 6to lugar en el número de casos confirmados (n=1,198,404); 7mo en número de fallecidos (n=22,383), 5to en letalidad (1,9%), y penúltimo en cobertura de vacunación (52,08%). En Bolivia; se observa una tendencia decreciente de casos entre la primera (n=144,592) y 6ta ola (n=88,859); Santa Cruz reportó más casos (n=4037.908) y Pando el más bajo (n=15,081). La tasa de incidencia fue más alta en Tarija y más baja en Potosí. La tasa de Letalidad fue mayor en la primera ola (6,20%) y más baja en la sexta ola (0,20%). La cobertura de vacunación con al menos una dosis fue mayor en Tarija (75,10%), y la más bajas en Beni (57,10%).

Conclusión: Bolivia presenta un descenso significativo en el número total de casos nuevos reportados, con disminución de la tasa de mortalidad y letalidad; sin embargo, las coberturas de vacunación en esquema completo y dosis de refuerzo siguen siendo una de las más bajas a nivel sudamericano

Health inequalities are commonly evaluated in a single dimension of analysis and little is known about the summative or multiplicative effect when 2 or more social dimensions are combined; representing a challenge for the prevention and control of High Blood Pressure (HBP).

Objective: Analyze the factors involved in the inequalities of the prevalence of HBP in the inter-sectional space of the processes of social advantage and disadvantage by ethnic and gender reference.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study with an intersectional approach. Subjects over 18 years of age with permanent residence in Cochabamba (n = 10,595), selected by means of three-stage random sampling, participated. The WHO-STEPS survey was used to collect information on HBP and the risk factors associated. Four intersectional positions were constructed by the combination of gender and ethnicity. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was applied to estimate the contributions of the explanatory factors of the inequalities.

Results: The prevalence of HBP was higher in mestizos men (10.76%); the disparity by gender reference was more important between mestizos (3.74%) and indigenous people (3.11%); the intersectional disparity between extreme groups (3.53%) was greater than the disparity between middle groups (3.32%). Age, type of work, and lifestyles contributed more to explain these differences.

Conclusions: The HBP is not distributed according to the expected patterns of social disadvantage in the intersectional space of ethnicity and gender. A high social advantage was related to higher prevalence of HBP, as well as associated behavioral risk factors.

Las desigualdades en salud comúnmente son evaluadas en una sola dimensión de análisis y poco se conoce sobre el efecto sumativo o multiplicativo cuando se combinan 2 o más dimensiones sociales; representando un desafío para la prevención y control de la Presión Arterial Elevada (PAE).

Objetivo: analizar los factores involucrados en las desigualdades poblacionales de la prevalencia de PAE en el espacio inter seccional de los procesos de ventaja y desventaja social por referencia étnica y de género.

Métodos: estudio observacional, de corte transversal con enfoque interseccional. Participaron sujetos mayores de 18 años con residencia permanente en Cochabamba (n=10595), seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio trietápico. Se utilizó la encuesta WHO-STEPS para recopilar información sobre PAE y factores de riesgo asociados. Se construyeron cuatro posiciones interseccionales por la combinación de género y etnicidad. La descomposición de Oaxaca-Blinder se aplicó para estimar las contribuciones de los factores explicativos de las desigualdades.

Resultados: la prevalencia de PAE fue mayor en los hombres-mestizos (10,76%); la disparidad por referencia de género fue más importante entre mestizos (3,74%) e indígenas (3,11%); la disparidad interseccional entre grupos extremos (3,53%) fue mayor a la disparidad entre grupos medios (3,32%). La edad, el tipo de trabajo y estilos de vida, contribuyeron más para explicar estas diferencias.

Conclusiones: la PAE no se distribuye según los patrones esperados de desventaja social en el espacio interseccional de etnicidad y género. Una alta ventaja social se relacionó con prevalencias más altas de PAE, así como los factores de riesgo de comportamiento asociados.

Objective: to analyze gender differences in the interaction between tobacco and alcohol consumption with high blood pressure (HBP) in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted, with n=10704 participants, randomly selected. Proportions, Odds-ratios and robust analysis of Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition were calculated.

Results: 33.5% of participants only drink alcohol, 1.8% only smoke and 9.2% both simultaneously. The probability of presenting HBP was higher in smokers (OR: 2.04); those who consume both simultaneously (OR: 1.73) or only drink alcohol (OR: 1.43). The men had a higher prevalence of HBP, smoking and harmful alcohol consumption; but women who smoke had higher OR levels to develop HBP. The differences in educational level, age, and type of work contributed positively to explain the gap between men and women.

Conclusion: The probability of presenting HBP was higher in women, especially those who smoke, despite their low prevalence.

Objetivo: analizar las diferencias de género en la interacción entre consumo de tabaco y alcohol con la presión arterial elevada (PAE) en Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Métodos: estudio transversal, con n=10704 participantes, seleccionados aleatoriamente. Se calcularon proporciones, Odds-ratios y análisis robusto de descomposición Blinder–Oaxaca.

Resultados: 33,5% reportó que solo bebe, 1,8% solo fuma y 9,2% ambos. La probabilidad de presentar PAE fueron mayores en aquellos que fuman (OR:2,04); beben y fuman (OR:1,73) o solo beben (OR:1,43). Los hombres presentaron prevalencias más elevadas de PAE, tabaquismo y consumo nocivo de alcohol; pero las mujeres que fuman presentaron niveles de OR más altos para el desarrollo de PAE. El nivel educativo, la edad, y el tipo de trabajo contribuyeron de manera positiva a explicar la brecha entre hombres y mujeres.

Conclusión: la probabilidad de presentar PAE fue mayor en mujeres, especialmente en aquellas que fuman, a pesar de su baja prevalencia.

Background: The increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is considered one of the most important public health problems worldwide and especially in Latin American (LA) countries. Although the systematic surveillance of chronic diseases and their risk factors has been recommended, Bolivia has not yet implemented a national strategy to collect and monitor CVRF information. Evidence from previous studies in Bolivia and other Latin American countries has suggested that CVRFs affect women more than men and mestizos more than indigenous people. However, a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the CVRF situation and how ethnicity and gender intersect to affect CVRFs is dearly needed to support the development of health policies to improve population health and reduce inequalities.

Objective: to estimate the distribution of CVRFs and to examine intersectional in equalities in Cochabamba – Bolivia in order to provide useful information for public health practice and decision making. The specific objectives are: i) to estimate the prevalence of preventable risk factors associated with CVDs and ii) to assess and explain obesity inequalities in the intersectional spaces of ethnicity and gender.

Methods: The data collection procedure was based on the Pan-American version (V2.0) of the WHO STEPS approach adapted to the Bolivian context. Between 2015 and 2016, 10,754 individuals aged over 18 years old were surveyed. The two first stages of the STEPS approach were conducted: a) Step 1 consisted of the application of a questionnaire to collect demographic and lifestyle data; b) Step 2 involved taking measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference of the participants.

To achieve objective 1, the prevalence of relevant behavioural risk factors and anthropometric measures were calculated, and then odds ratios/prevalence ratios were estimated for each CVRF, both with crude and adjusted regression models. Regarding objective 2, an intersectionality approach based on the method suggested by Jackson et al. (67) was used to analyse the ethnic and gender inequalities in obesity. Gender and ethnicity information were combined to form four mutually exclusive intersectional positions: i) the dually disadvantaged group of indigenous women; ii) the dually advantaged group of mestizo men; and the singly disadvantaged groups of iii) indigenous men and iv) mestizo women. Joint and excess intersectional disparities in abdominal obesity were estimated as absolute prevalence differences between binary groups, using binomial regression models. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was applied to estimate the contributions of explanatory factors underlying the observed intersectional disparities.

Main findings: Our findings revealed that Cochabamba had a high prevalence of CVRFs, with significant variations among the different socio-demographic groups. Indigenous populations and those living in the Andean region showed, in general, a lower prevalence for most of the risk factors evaluated. The prevalence of behavioural risk factors were: current smoking (11.6%); current alcohol consumption (42.76%); low consumption of fruits and vegetables (76.73%); and low level of physical activity (64.77%). The prevalence of metabolic risk factors evaluated were: being overweight (35.84%); obesity (20.49%); abdominal obesity (54.13%); and raised blood pressure (17.5%). It is important to highlight that 40.7% of participants had four or more CVRFs simultaneously.

Dually and singly disadvantaged groups (indigenous women, indigenous men, and mestizo women) were less obese than the dually advantaged group (mestizomen). The joint disparity showed that the obesity prevalence was 7.26 percentage points higher in the doubly advantaged mestizo men (MM) than in the doubly disadvantaged indigenous women (IW). Mestizo men (MM) had an obesity prevalence of 4.30 percentage points higher than mestizo women (MW) and 9.18 percentage points higher than indigenous men (IM). The resulting excess intersectional disparity was 6.22 percentage points, representing -86 percentage points of the joint disparity. The lower prevalence of obesity in the doubly disadvantaged group of indigenous women (7.26 percentage points) was mainly due to ethnic differences alone. However, they had higher obesity than expected when considering both genders alone and ethnicity alone. Health behaviours were important factors in explaining the intersectional inequalities, while differences in socioeconomic and demographic factors played less important roles.

Conclusion: The prevalence of all CVRFs in Cochabamba was high, and nearly two-thirds of the population reported two or more risk factors simultaneously. The intersectional disparities illustrate that abdominal obesity is not distributed according to expected patterns of structural disadvantages in the intersectional spaces of ethnicity and gender in Bolivia. A high social advantage was related to higher rates of abdominal obesity, with health behaviours as the most important factors explaining the observed inequalities. The information generated by this study provides evidence for health policymakers at the regional level and a baseline data for department-wide action plans to carry out specific interventionsin the population and on individual levels.

A concomitant presence of chronically malnourished (stunted) and obesity, is known as the double burden of childhood malnutrition, is observed more frequently in low and middle-income countries.

Objective: to analyze the prevalence of underweight and childhood obesity in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted, with a sample of n=4885 children under 5 years, stratified for the 5 macro regions from Cochabamba, applying the Community Nutritional Surveillance System. The anthropometric measurements were entered into the WHO-Anthro Software v3.1.0, to calculate the Z-score and its nutritional status categorization. Proportions and IC-95% are presented; Chi2 to associations between categorical variables, Pearson correlation for the interaction between quantitative variables, and multivariate logistic regression for adjusted Odds Ratio (OR).

Results: we found a prevalence of 22,1% for estunted; 6,0% for global underweight; 6,1% for acute underweight; 16,4% probable delay of growth of the cephalic perimeter and 10,8% with inadequate energy reserve. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 16,5% for the weight/height indicator; 17,6% according to the BMI/age and 10.8% for the MUAC/age. 66,03% of stunted children were overweight or obese. The prevalence of underweight and obesity was higher in the Andean region, the age group most affected by obesity were children from 1 to 3 years.

Conclusion: there is a statistically significant association between stunted and obesity; this double burden of child malnutrition was more prevalent in the Andean region.

La presencia concomitante de talla baja y obesidad, conocida como la doble carga de la malnutrición infantil, es observada con mayor frecuencia en países de bajos y medios ingresos económicos como el nuestro.

Objetivo: analizar la prevalencia de la desnutrición y obesidad infantil en Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional de corte transversal, con una muestra de n=4885 niños menores de 5 años, estratificada para las 5 macrorregiones de Cochabamba, aplicando el Sistema de Vigilancia Nutricional Comunitario. Las mediciones antropométricas se ingresaron al Software WHO-Anthro v3.1.0, para el cálculo de Z-score y su categorización. Se presentan proporciones e IC-95%; Chi2 para la asociación entre variables categóricas, correlación de Pearson para la interacción entre variables cuantitativas y regresión logística multivariada para el cálculo de Odds Ratio (OR) ajustados.

Resultados: encontramos una prevalencia de 22,1% para DNT-Crónica; 6,0% para DNT-Global; 6,1% para DNT-Aguda; 16,4% de probable retraso de crecimiento del perímetro cefálico y 10,8% con reserva energética inadecuada. La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue del 16,5% para el indicador peso/talla; 17,6% según el IMC/edad y 10,8% para el PMB/Edad. El 66,03% de los niños con talla baja presentaban sobrepeso u obesidad. La prevalencia de desnutrición y obesidad fue mayor en la región andina, el grupo etario más afectado por la obesidad fueron los niños de 1 a 3 años.

Conclusión: existe una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la talla baja y la presencia de obesidad; esta doble carga de malnutrición infantil fue más prevalente en la región andina.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered the number one cause of death worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, Bolivia included. Lack of reliable estimates of risk factor distribution can lead to delay in implementation of evidence-based interventions. However, little is known about the prevalence of risk factors in the country. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of preventable risk factors associated with CVDs and to identify the demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with them in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among youth and adults (N = 10,704) with permanent residence in Cochabamba, selected through a multistage sampling technique, from July 2015 to November 2016. An adapted version of the WHO STEPS survey was used to collect information. The prevalence of relevant behavioural risk factors and anthropometric measures were obtained. The socio-demographic variables included were age, ethnicity, level of education, occupation, place of residence, and marital status. Proportions with 95% confidence intervals were first calculated, and prevalence ratios were estimated for each CVD risk factor, both with crude and adjusted models.

Results: More than half (57.38%) were women, and the mean age was 37.89 ± 18 years. The prevalence of behavioural risk factors were: current smoking, 11.6%; current alcohol consumption, 42.76%; low consumption of fruits and vegetables, 76.73%; and low level of physical activity, 64.77%. The prevalence of overweight was 35.84%; obesity, 20.49%; waist risk or abdominal obesity, 54.13%; and raised blood pressure, 17.5%. Indigenous populations and those living in the Andean region showed in general a lower prevalence of most of the risk factors evaluated.

Conclusion: We provide the first CVD risk factor profile of people living in Cochabamba, Bolivia, using a standardized methodology. Overall, findings suggest that the prevalence of CVD risk factors in Cochabamba is high. This result highlights the need for interventions to improve early diagnosis, monitoring, management, and especially prevention of these risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Social inequalities in obesity have been observed not only by gender but also between ethnic groups. Evidence on combined dimensions of inequality in health, and specifically including indigenous populations, is however scarce, and presents a particularly daunting challenge for successful prevention and control of obesity in Bolivia, as well as worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were i) to examine intersectional inequalities in obesity and ii) to identify the factors underlying the observed intersectional inequalities.

METHODS: An intersectional approach study was employed, using the information collected in a cross-sectional community-based survey. The sample consisted of youth and adults with permanent residence in Cochabamba department (N = 5758), selected through a multistage sampling technique. An adapted version of the WHO-STEPS survey was used to collect information about Abdominal obesity and risk factors associated. Four intersectional positions were constructed from gender (woman vs. men) and ethnic group (indigenous vs. mestizo). Joint and excess intersectional disparities in obesity were estimated as absolute prevalence differences between binary groups, using binomial regression models. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was applied to estimate the contributions of explanatory factors underlying the observed intersectional disparities, using Oaxaca command in Stata software v15.1.

RESULTS: The prevalence of abdominal obesity had a higher prevalence in mestizos (men 35.01% and women 30.71%) as compared to indigenous (men 25.38% and women 27.75%). The joint disparity was estimated at 7.26 percentage points higher prevalence in the doubly advantaged mestizo men than in the doubly disadvantaged indigenous women. The gender referent disparity showed that mestizo-women had a higher prevalence than indigenous-women. The ethnic referent disparity showed that mestizo-men had a higher prevalence than indigenous men. The behavioural risk factors were the most important to explain the observed inequalities, while differences in socioeconomic and demographic factors played a less important role.

CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates that abdominal obesity is not distributed according to expected patterns of structural disadvantage in the intersectional space of ethnicity and gender in Bolivia. In the Cochabamba case, a high social advantage was related to higher rates of abdominal obesity, as well as the behavioural risk factors associated with them.