scholarly journals Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support (MEALS) for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention in Ghana: Project Implementation Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amos Laar ◽  
Bridget Kelly ◽  
Michelle Holdsworth ◽  
Wilhemina Quarpong ◽  
Richmond Aryeetey ◽  
...  

Background: This study describes the rationale, adaptation, and final protocol of a project developed to address the increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) in Ghana. Code-named the Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs (MEALS4NCDs) project, it aims to measure and support public sector actions that create healthy food marketing, retail, and provisioning environments for Ghanaian children using adapted methods from the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS).Methods: The protocol for this observational study draws substantially from the INFORMAS' Food Promotion and Food Provision Modules. However, to appraise the readiness of local communities to implement interventions with strong potential to improve food environments of Ghanaian children, the MEALS4NCDs protocol has innovatively integrated a local community participatory approach based on the community readiness model (CRM) into the INFORMAS approaches. The setting is Ghana, and the participants include health and nutrition policy-makers, nutrition and food service providers, consumers, school authorities, and pupils of Ghanaian basic schools.Results: The study establishes a standardized approach to providing implementation science evidence for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana. It demonstrates feasibility and the innovative application of the INFORMAS expanded food promotion and food provision modules, together with the integration of the CRM in a lower-middle income setting.Conclusion: The research will facilitate the understanding of the processes through which the INFORMAS approach is contextualized to a lower-middle income African context. The protocol could be adapted for similar country settings to monitor relevant aspects of food environments of children.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amos Laar ◽  
Bridget Kelly ◽  
Michelle Holdsworth ◽  
Wilhemina Quarpong ◽  
Richmond Aryeetey ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundLike most other countries, Ghana is experiencing an increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs). The need to adopt effective and comprehensive interventions/approaches to address this burden at global, regional, and national levels has been recognized. However, there is limited contextualized evidence on the implementation, and efficacy of approaches that can address NCDs in Ghana. In an earlier study, we assessed food environment priorities, and programme implementation gaps in Ghana. Building on that, this paper describes the rationale, adaptation and final protocol of a project developed to address this: The Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs (MEALS4NCDs) project. The MEALS4NCDs project aims to measure and support public sector actions that create healthy food marketing, retail and provisioning environments for Ghanaian children, using adapted methods from the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). The research will facilitate understanding of the processes through which the INFORMAS approach is contextualized to a lower-middle income African context. MethodsThe protocol for this observational study draws substantially from the INFORMAS’ Food Promotion and Food Provision Modules. However, to appraise the readiness of local communities to implement interventions with strong potential to improve Ghanaian children’s food environments, the MEALS4NCDs protocol has innovatively integrated a local community participatory approach based on the Community Readiness Model (CRM) into the INFORMAS approaches. DiscussionThe study establishes a standardised approach to providing implementation science evidence for NCDs prevention in Ghana. It aims to demonstrate feasibility and innovative application of the INFORMAS expanded Food promotion and Food provision modules, together with the integration of the CRM in a lower-middle income setting. The protocol could be adapted for similar country settings to monitor relevant aspects of children’s food environments. Trial registrationNot applicable


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Garcia de Quevedo ◽  
Felipe Lobelo ◽  
Loren Cadena ◽  
Madalena Soares ◽  
Michael Pratt

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide, with higher rates of premature mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This places a high economic burden on these countries, which usually have limited capacity to address this public health problem. We developed a guided self-assessment tool for describing national capacity for NCD prevention and control. The purpose of this tool was to assist countries in identifying key opportunities and gaps in NCD capacity. It was piloted in three countries between 2012 and 2013: Mozambique, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. The tool includes details about NCD burden; health system infrastructure and primary care services; workforce capacity; surveillance; planning, policy, and program management; and partnerships. In the three pilot countries, the tool helped to identify differences in capacity needs pertaining to staff, training, and surveillance, but similarities were also found related to NCD challenges and opportunities. The NCD tool increased our understanding of needs and critical capacity elements for addressing NCDs in the three pilot countries. This tool can be used by other LMICs to map their efforts toward addressing NCD goals and defining priorities.


Author(s):  
Marco Zenone ◽  
Benjamin Hawkins

Suzuki et al. have identified commonalities in the policy positions adopted at a global forum by commercial sector actors and high-income countries, on the one hand, and non-governmental organizations and low- and middle-income countries, on the other, in ways that may allow commercial sector actors to block or delay evidence-based policies through the creation of political controversy. The ability of industry actors to draw on the support of the most politically and economically powerful countries for their favoured policy agenda is an important contribution to understanding the dynamics of global health governance in the area of non-communicable diseases and beyond. Here we assess the relevance of this paper for the field of corporate actors’ research and the potential avenues this opens up for further study. More specifically we emphasize the need for comparative, cross disciplinary research to examine the power of heath-harming industries and the relevance of these findings for decolonizing global health.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e033320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fantu Abebe Eyowas ◽  
Marguerite Schneider ◽  
Biksegn Asrat Yirdaw ◽  
Fentie Ambaw Getahun

IntroductionMultimorbidity is the coexistence of two or more chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a given individual. Multimorbidity is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and challenging health systems. Individuals with multimorbidity are facing the risk of premature mortality, lower quality of life and greater use of healthcare services. However, despite the huge challenge multimorbidity brings in LMICs, gaps remain in mapping and synthesising the available knowledge on the issue. The focus of this scoping review will be to synthesise the extent, range and nature of studies on the epidemiology and models of multimorbidity care in LMICs.MethodsPubMed (MEDLINE) will be the main database to be searched. For articles that are not indexed in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases will be searched. Grey literature databases will also be explored. There will be no restrictions on study setting or year of publication. Articles will be searched using key terms, including comorbidity, co-morbidity, multimorbidity, multiple chronic conditions and model of care. Relevant articles will be screened by two independent reviewers and data will be charted accordingly. The result of this scoping review will be presented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist and reporting guideline.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review does not require ethical approval. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific conferences.


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