CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 24, No 3, April 2013
AFRICA
57
Conclusion
This study provides the first NCD risk-factor profile of people
in the Kasese district, Uganda, using internationally standardised
methodology. Our findings for this predominantly rural sample
provide evidence for health policy-makers as well as district
authorities on lifestyle problems in the population studied.
The burden of more diseases is to be expected if an effective
prevention strategy is not undertaken.
Although even short-term educational programmes have been
shown to be effective in improving lifestyle, a durable education
strategy and cost-saving policies supported by sustained large-
scale media education and school-based educational programmes
could be the starting point for a possible national programme on
controlling NCDs in Uganda. A national NCD risk-factor survey
should however be undertaken to avoid biased generalisation of
results, as Kasese is not a representative population of Uganda.
We thank DANIDA through the Danish NCD Alliance – Uganda NCD
Alliance partnership for financial support for the data collection. We also
thank Dr Bahendeka Silver for his contribution during the initial design of
the study protocol. Ms Susanne Vilquarzt of the Danish NCD Alliance was
helpful in writing the grant application to DANIDA. Ms Wandera Rebecca
was helpful in data capture and analysis. We thank the entire field staff in
Kasese for the data collection. We are grateful to Dr Hassan Sebina, the
management and staff at Kagando Hospital and Alcomed Clinics for their
invaluable input.
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