Analysis of Cameroon’s Sectoral Policies on Physical Activity for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention

Physical inactivity is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), urbanisation and sedentary living are rapidly growing in tandem. Increasing active living requires the participation of multiple sectors, yet it is unclear whether physical activity (PA)-relevant sectors in LMICs are prioritising PA. We investigated to what extent sectors that influence PA explicitly integrate it in their policies in an LMIC such as Cameroon. We systematically identified policy documents relevant to PA and NCD prevention in Cameroon; and using the Walt and Gilson policy triangle we described, analysed, and interpreted the policy contexts, contents, processes, and actors. We found 17 PA and NCD policy documents spanning from 1974 to 2019 across seven ministries. Thirteen (13/17) policies targeted infrastructure improvement, and four (4/17) targeted communication for behaviour change, all aiming to enhance leisure domain PA. Only the health sector explicitly acknowledged the role of PA in NCD prevention. Notably, no policy from the transport sector mentioned PA. Our findings highlight the need for intersectoral action to integrate PA into policies in all relevant sectors. These actions will need to encompass the breadth of PA domains, including transport, while emphasising the multiple health benefits of PA for the population.

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The Curious Case of Cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities for Environmental Health Scientists to Learn about a Complex Disease

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2018/2606973 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

William A. Suk ◽

Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi ◽

Mathuros Ruchirawat

Keyword(s):

Psychosocial Stress ◽

Allostatic Load ◽

Scientific Community ◽

Complex Disease ◽

Noncommunicable Disease ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries

Deaths from complex, noncommunicable diseases such as cancer are predicted to continue to increase worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of the burden. This problem requires a concentrated global effort to avoid devastating losses of life as well as economic losses. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a readily studied model of complex, noncommunicable disease, but it receives little attention outside of the scientific community in Southeast Asia. Here, we bring attention to the opportunity to study CCA as a model to understand the role of multiple, complex factors in cancer. These factors include allostatic load, individual genetic susceptibility, and environmental exposures such as chemicals, diet, socioeconomic factors, and psychosocial stress. The study of CCA offers a unique opportunity to make novel observations that could advance progress in prevention and intervention approaches for prevalent diseases that involve complex, multifactorial interactions.

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Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention In Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Overview of Health in All Policies (HiAP)

INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing ◽

10.1177/0046958020927885 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 ◽

pp. 004695802092788

Author(s):

Nweke Ebele Ndubuisi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Health Sector ◽

Noncommunicable Disease ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Unhealthy Diet ◽

Tobacco Usage ◽

Low And Middle Income

Noncommunicable disease (NCD) causes about 35 million deaths and accounts for 60% of all deaths, of which 80% is in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). NCDs will account for 80% of the global burden of disease by 2020 and account for 7 out of every 10 deaths in LMIC. NCD is no longer an emerging problem in developing countries, it’s assuming an alarming dimension, and taking on the proportion of an epidemic. Several literatures document the known risk factors for significant NCDs. The critical risk factors are tobacco usage, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and detrimental usage of alcohol. To reverse the trend that leads to an increase in poor dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use will need policies that transcend the health sector and policy change in different areas such as finance, urban planning, education, agriculture, and transportation.

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Wireless Connected Health

E-Health and Telemedicine ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8756-1.ch014 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 260-297

Author(s):

Florie Brizel

Keyword(s):

Health Sector ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Industry Growth ◽

Middle Income ◽

Connected Health ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Illness Prevention ◽

Medical Need ◽

Health Organization

Wireless connected health is the most current, inclusive phrase to describe healthcare that incorporates wireless technologies and/or mobile devices. It represents one of the fastest growing sectors in the global mobile and wireless ecosystem, with extraordinary change occurring daily. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of people in greatest medical need live in low- to middle-income countries. Not enough has been written about how they will afford wireless connected health, or how it can bring positive benefits to patients everywhere with non-lethal chronic illnesses. It also remains to be seen whether people outside the healthcare industry, without any special interest in science, technology, medicine, or illness prevention, will adopt new and future behavior-changing connected health technologies. This chapter provides a current overview of the global health crises created by noncommunicable diseases, explains the evolution of the global wireless connected health sector, includes information about BRICS nations, and offers observations, insights, and recommendations from a socio-economic and political standpoint for responsible and effective future industry growth.

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Wireless Connected Health

Interdisciplinary Mobile Media and Communications - Advances in Wireless Technologies and Telecommunication ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-6166-0.ch017 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 305-343

Author(s):

Florie Brizel

Keyword(s):

Health Sector ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Industry Growth ◽

Middle Income ◽

Connected Health ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Illness Prevention ◽

Medical Need ◽

Health Organization

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Gaps in Capacity in Primary Care in Low-Resource Settings for Implementation of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions

International Journal of Hypertension ◽

10.1155/2012/584041 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

S. Mendis ◽

Igbal Al Bashir ◽

Lanka Dissanayake ◽

Cherian Varghese ◽

Ibtihal Fadhil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Medical Information ◽

Health Financing ◽

Noncommunicable Disease ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

Objective.The objective was to evaluate the capacity of primary care (PC) facilities to implement basic interventions for prevention and management of major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.Methods.A cross-sectional survey was done in eight low- and middle-income countries (Benin, Bhutan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, and Vietnam) in 90 PC facilities randomly selected. The survey included questions on the availability of human resources, equipment, infrastructure, medicines, utilization of services, financing, medical information, and referral systems.Results and Conclusions.Major deficits were identified in health financing, access to basic technologies and medicines, medical information systems, and the health workforce. The study has provided the foundation for strengthening PC to address noncommunicable diseases. There are important implications of the findings of this study for all low- and middle-income countries as capacity of PC is fundamental for equitable prevention and control of NCDs.

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Methodological gaps and opportunities for studying multisectoral collaboration for health in low- and middle-income countries

Health Policy and Planning ◽

10.1093/heapol/czz116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii7-ii17 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Douglas Glandon ◽

Shinjini Mondal ◽

Ida Okeyo ◽

Shehla Zaidi ◽

Mishal S Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Health Sector ◽

Power Dynamics ◽

Framework Analysis ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Systems Research ◽

Classification Framework

Abstract The current body of research into multisectoral collaborations (MSCs) for health raises more questions than it answers, both in terms of how to implement MSCs and how to study them. This article reflects on current methodological gaps and opportunities for advancing MSC research, based on a targeted review of existing literature and qualitative input from researchers and practitioners at the 2018 Health Systems Research (HSR) Symposium in Liverpool. Through framework analysis of 205 MSC research papers referenced in a separately published MSC ‘overview of reviews’ paper, this article identifies six broad MSC question domains (‘meta questions’) and applies content analysis to estimate the relative frequency with which these meta questions and the research method(s) used to answer them are present in the literature. Results highlight a preponderance of research exploring MSC implementation using case study methods, which, in aggregate, does not seem to adequately meet policymakers’ and practitioners’ needs for generalizable or transferable insights. The content analysis is complemented by qualitative insights from HSR Symposium participants and the authors’ own experience to identify six key methodological gaps in research on MSC for health. For each of these gaps, we propose areas in which we believe there are opportunities for methodological development and innovation to help advance this field of study, including: better understanding the role of power dynamics in shaping MSCs; development of a classification framework (or frameworks) of governance arrangements; exploring divergence of perspective and experience among MSC partners; identifying or generating theoretical frameworks for MSC that work across sectors and disciplines; developing intermediate indicators of collaboration; and increasing transferability of insights to other contexts. Collaboration with researchers outside of the health sector will enhance efforts in each of these areas, as will the establishment and strengthening of pluralistic MSC evidence networks also involving policymakers and practitioners.

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Noncommunicable diseases prevention in low- and middle-income countries: an overview of Health in All Policies (HiAP)

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27962v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ndubuisi Ebele

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Current Trend ◽

Health Sector ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Harmful Use ◽

Unhealthy Diet ◽

Low And Middle Income

NCD causes an estimated 35 million deaths annually and accounts for 60% of all deaths globally, of which 80% is in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC). NCDs will account for 80% of the global burden of disease by 2020. And will be responsible for seven out of every ten deaths in LMIC, more than double the current trend today. NCD is no longer an emerging problem in developing countries, it is assuming an alarming dimension, and it's taking on the proportion of an epidemic. The known risk factors for significant NCDs are well documented. The critical risk factors are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. To reverse the current trend that leads to an increase in poor dietary pattern, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use- will require policies that transcend the health sector and policy change in different areas such as finance, urban planning, education, agriculture, and transportation.

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Using social networks to scale up and sustain community-based programmes to improve physical activity and diet in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. e053586

Author(s):

Nina Abrahams ◽

Estelle V Lambert ◽

Frederick Marais ◽

Zoi Toumpakari ◽

Charlie Foster

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Networks ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Scale Up ◽

Community Based ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Review Protocol

IntroductionThe World Health Organisation endorses community-based programmes as a cost-effective, feasible and a ‘best buy’ in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These programmes are particularly successful when the community actively participates in its design, implementation and evaluation. However, they may be only useful insofar as they can be scaled up and sustained in some meaningful way. Social network research may serve as an important tool for determining the underlying mechanisms that contribute to this process. The aim of this planned scoping review is to map and collate literature on the role of social networks in scaling-up and sustaining community-based physical activity and diet programmes in low-income and middle-income countries.Methods and analysisThis scoping review protocol has been planned around the Arksey and O'Malley framework and its enhancement. Inclusion criteria are peer-reviewed articles and grey literature exploring the role of social networks in the scale-up and/or sustainability of NCD prevention community-based programmes in adult populations. Studies must have been published since 2000, in English, and be based in a low-income or middle-income country. The following databases will be used for this review: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, SocIndex, the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Google and Google Scholar. Books, conference abstracts and research focused only on children will be excluded. Two reviewers will independently select and extract eligible studies. Included publications will be thematically analysed using the Framework Approach.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will not be sought for this review as no individual-level data or human participants will be involved. This protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KG7TX). The findings from the review will be published in an accredited journal. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist will be used to support transparency and guide translation of the review.

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The reality of the Noncommunicable disease policy landscape in Low Income Countries: the example of Mozambique

10.21203/rs.3.rs-240060/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Khatia Rebeca Munguambe ◽

Tavares Madede ◽

Vasco Muchanga ◽

Claire Somerville ◽

David Henri Beran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Noncommunicable Disease ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Middle Income ◽

External Resources ◽

Low Income Country ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Government Documents

Abstract Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with a disproportionate burden affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Mozambique, is a low income country situated in Southern Africa with an emerging burden of NCDs, but still facing a large challenge with regards to communicable diseases. Using the policy prioritisation framework developed by Shiffman and Smith this study aims to present the different elements that have shaped the current policy landscape for NCDs in Mozambique.Results The policy review identified 18 documents, and seven KIs were interviewed. The policy community could be seen as cohesive in that a few leading experts in Mozambique agreed on both the challenges of NCDs and the possible response, but overall leadership was lacking. Although the Ministry of Health and its NCD Department were seen as the guiding institutions the Department was not resourced to be able to fulfil its mandate. Some external resources were available to assist, but these were insufficient. In addition civil society mobilisation was missing. With regards to ideas three disconnects were present: language used in overarching government documents and their translation into practice; the views of experts; and the perceptions of NCDs in a context like Mozambique in contrast to other health issues. The NCD Department and different strategies and government documents laid out the governing structure, but again a lack of resources hampered progress. This was compounded by a lack of understanding of the problem and solutions, as well as barriers to integrate the NCD response with HIV/AIDS for example. Conclusions This study shows that despite gaining prominence on the global health agenda, NCDs have yet to truly gain a strong foothold on the policy agenda of LMICs such as Mozambique. In order to do this both governments and donors need to be sensitised to this issue as well as clear guidance developed to enable countries to have practical solutions to address both prevention and treatment of NCDs in underfunded and weak health systems, but also be able to build on existing initiatives to improve the health and well-being of populations.

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Better Late Than Never?! Five Compelling Reasons for Putting Physical Activity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries High Up on the Public Health Research Agenda

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2021-0576 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-2

Author(s):

Katja Siefken ◽

Andrea Varela Ramirez ◽

Temo Waqanivalu ◽

Nico Schulenkorf

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Agenda ◽

Public Health Research ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Middle Income ◽

The Public ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

Since 2020, the world has been navigating an epidemiologic transition with both infectious diseases (COVID-19) and noncommunicable diseases intertwined in complex and diverse ways. In fact, the pandemics of physical inactivity, noncommunicable diseases, and COVID-19 coincide in a tragically impactful ménage à trois with their detrimental long-term health consequences yet to be determined. We know that people in low- and middle-income countries not only have the highest risk of developing chronic diseases, they also develop the diseases at a younger age, they suffer longer, and they die earlier than people in high-income countries. This commentary features 5 compelling reasons for putting physical activity in low- and middle-income countries high up on the public health research agenda and calls for more commitment to inclusive and context-specific public health practices that are paired with locally relevant promotion and facilitation of PA practice, research, and policymaking.

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