009 - Abstract: 2023 Survey of Non-Communicable Diseases and their Risk Factors

2023 Survey of Non-Communicable Diseases and their Risk Factors
Although the incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is rising globally, the growing burden of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries presents major challenges for health systems. Despite the communicable diseases and other conditions still being predominate in sub-Saharan Africa, NCDs are projected to become the leading cause of death by 2030. As in the rest of the developing countries, Kenya is experiencing an epidemic transition in its diseases burden from communicable diseases to non-communicable conditions resulting in a double burden of disease.
Non-Communicable Diseases are a major public health concern with significant socio-economic implications in terms of health care-needs, lost productivity and premature death. These diseases remain to be a serious setback to the attainment of social, health and economic targets if no proper interventions are put in place. The NCDs accounts for about a half of total hospital admissions and over 39 per cent of hospital deaths in Kenya. The major NCDs are cardiovascular conditions, cancers, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Equally contributing to the huge burden are violence and injuries, mental disorders, oral, eye and dental diseases.
To address the health concerns attributed to the NCDs, a baseline STEPS survey was done in 2015 to collect comprehensive information on risk factors for NCDs. STEPS is a WHO standardized NCD surveillance protocol involving three different levels of steps to gather self-reported data on demographics and behavioural risk factors, physical and biochemical measures from nationally representative populations. 2015 STEPS survey was a national cross-sectional household survey designed to provide estimates for indicators on risk factors for NCDs for persons' age 18 – 69 years. The results obtained from the survey helped to establish interventions that are based on local risk factor burden and forms a resource to inform the process of planning and policy formulation as well as a monitoring and evaluation tool for NCDs.
In light of the rising burden of NCDs and of government efforts to control NCDs in Kenya, NCD risk factor surveillance should be a priority for the national health information system. Considering that the STEPS survey was conducted almost 8 years ago, the country needs to conduct periodic surveys geared towards monitoring and evaluation of NCD intervention mechanisms. The baseline results also informed the need for collecting subnational (county) indicators to guide NCD surveillance and monitoring at that level.
Consequently, a survey of NCDs and their risk factors is planned to be implemented in the year 2023/24 financial year across the country. This survey will be implemented by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Health Statistics Unit in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) Division of Non-Communicable Diseases. The survey is aimed at collecting accurate data that will inform the national and county level policy makers to make appropriate decisions of tackling the burden of the disease. Preparation of the survey are in progress and it is envisaged that the survey will be rolled out as per the plan.
Key Words: Risk factors, Non-Communicable Diseases, Steps, Survey, Monitoring, Evaluation

Risk factors

Non-Communicable Diseases

Steps

Survey

Monitoring

Evaluation