Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported noncommunicable diseases among older Ugandans: a cross-sectional study
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Health Action
Abstract
There is limited evidence about the prevalence and risk factors for non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) among older Ugandans. Therefore, this article is aimed at investigating the prevalence of selfreported
NCDs and their associated risk factors using a nationally representative sample.
Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2010 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) using a
weighted sample of 2,382 older people. Frequency distributions for descriptive statistics and Pearson chisquare
tests to identify the association between self-reported NCDs and selected explanatory variables were
done. Finally, multivariable complementary log log regressions to estimate the risk factors for self-reported
NCDs among older people in Uganda were done.
Results: About 2 in 10 (23%) older persons reported at least one NCD [including hypertension (16%), diabetes
(3%), and heart disease (9%)]. Among all older people, reporting NCDs was higher among those aged 60 69
and 70 79; Muslims; and Pentecostals and Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs). In addition, the likelihood of
reporting NCDs was higher among older persons who depended on remittances and earned wages; owned a
bicycle; were sick in the last 30 days; were disabled; and were women. Conversely, the odds of reporting NCDs
were lower for those who were relatives of household heads and were poor.
Conclusions: In Uganda, self-reported NCDs were associated with advanced age, being a woman, having a
disability, ill health in the past 30 days, being rich, depended on remittances and earning wages, being Muslim,
Pentecostal and SDAs, and household headship. The Ministry of Health should prevent and manage NCDs by
creating awareness in the public and improving the supply of essential drugs for these health conditions. Finally,
there is a need for specialised surveillance studies of older people to monitor the trends and patterns of NCDs
over time.
Description
Keywords
Africa, Uganda, chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases, elderly
Citation
Wandera, S. O., Kwagala, B., & Ntozi, J. (2015). Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported non-communicable diseases among older Ugandans: a cross-sectional study. Global Health Action, 8(1), 27923.10.3402/gha.v8.27923