Essay Example on NCDs: Lifestyles Cause Many Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) include conditions such as heart disorders, brain disorders, cancerous cells, and accidents-related illnesses that are not transferrable from one patient to another (Preston, Waugh, Larkins, & Taylor, 2010). Lifestyles cause many of the NCDs. For example, tobacco and alcohol consumption is the leading cause of NCDs, such as mental damages, cancer, heart disorders, and chronic kidney illnesses, among others. Additionally, lifestyle behaviors, such as lack of exercise, are the primary cause of NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension (Atiq, 2017). Despite the lack of transferability from one individual to another, NCDs are fatal. Statistically, they are amongst the top 10 leading roots of fatality globally, and in Pakistani (Khan et al., 2018). Research conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan, reveals that non-communicable diseases predominantly affect people living in low-income neighborhoods as opposed to those in the high-income ends (Nishtar, 2004). With this in mind, continued participation in health education by both the community and the government is vital to create awareness of the severe effects of non-communicable diseases.

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Background Information

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are illnesses that cannot be propagated from an individual to the next directly. Some of the examples of non-communicable diseases include stroke, heart and brain disorders, chronic kidney illnesses, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and accident-related injuries. The severity of the NCDs ranges from acute to chronic based on the type of disease as well as the individual. A more significant percentage of the NCDs constitutes of the non-infections illnesses. NCDs are amongst the significant health challenges in Pakistan. According to the reports of the World Health Organization (WHO) of 2018, NCDs holds a considerable position on the top 10 lists of diseases that links to the high morbidity and death in the nation (World Health Organization, 2018). The body had estimated that NCDs and accident-related injuries cause up to 77% of the total deaths in the country (Naseem, Khattak, Ghazanfar, & Irfan, 2016). Diabetes, which is amongst the numerous types of NCDs, is the primary cause of the deaths both for the urban and rural populations. Lifestyles of the Pakistani population links directly to the prevalence cases of the NCDs in the country. Studies conducted by the National Health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP) reveals that tobacco consumptions, which is approximately at 34% amongst the country's population contribute considerably to the rampant cases of hypertension, while lifestyle contributes significantly to the overweight cases (Saqib et al., 2018; Barolia, & Sayani, 2017). Obesity and overweight are the primary contributors to the increased prevalence of NCDs (Ghaffar, Reddy, & Singhi, 2004). With this in mind, a critical analysis of the actions of the community, community-based organizations, and the Pakistan government concerning health education is critically vital. Therefore, the article examines the participation of the community and the Pakistan government in the provision of much-needed training on non-communicable diseases.

Identification of the Worst-hit NCDs Communities

NCDs cause numerous deaths globally each year. 2014 WHO statistical analysis reveals that approximately 38 million people lose their lives as a result of the NCDs (Memon, 2020). Additionally, over 80% of these demises happen in regions of low-income earners. Blood pressure and heart ailments are the principal cause of the deaths among all the NCDs. A research conducted by Naseem, Khattak, Ghazanfar & Irfan (2016), shows that the semi-urban areas of Pakistan record the highest cases of the prevalence of the NCDs compared to the high income earning regions. Therefore, there is a need for continued community-based interventions to regulate the incidence of these diseases in the semi-urban areas. The semi-urban population of Islamabad suffering from adverse effects of non-communicable diseases deals with other lifestyle issues, including tobacco consumption, drug abuse, and alcoholism, and generally poor lifestyles. As a result, the chances of severe effects of NCDs in these regions are high. The most reported cases of NCDs in the semi-urban areas of Islamabad include stroke, respiratory illnesses, accidents and injuries, high blood pressure, and increased incidents of cancer. The cumulative effect of all these non-communicable diseases, according to the study, is increased suicides and suicidal thoughts (Riaz et al., 2016). Therefore, community intervention could be through the creation of awareness on the severity of hypertension, as well as the need for personal initiative when it comes to blood pressure checkups and keeping it under control.

How does the Community get involved in Health Education about Non-communicable Diseases?

The establishment and implementations of approaches that aim at regulating the adverse effect of non-communicable diseases have been a significant challenge globally, and more especially for developing countries. As a result, different countries are taking various measures to regulate the prevalence and severity of NCDs. Both the Pakistani government and the private sectors have put joint efforts in the regulation and prevention of the NCDs (Nishtar, 2004). In Pakistan, some of these measures include the government working with community leaders and the general members of the community to facilitate health education. Community, therefore, gets involved in the health education on non-communicable diseases through research and studies, health awareness programs, non-governmental initiatives organizing workshops, and healthy lifestyles education, among others. However, much of the community-based health education occurring in Pakistan focus on women and delivery, prenatal, post-natal, and postpartum healthcare.

A Definition of Community Involvement

Statistical results have proven that non-communicable disease is as a result of several failures in lifestyles. Health education on the desirable lifestyle approaches is critically essential for the control, prevention, and reduction of the severe effect of the non-communicable diseases. Community involvement is at the frontline of these mitigation approaches. There are several ways through which the community can get involved in health education. The following section analyses some of the community involvement measures in health education about non-communicable diseases, specifically in Pakistan.

Involvement of the Community in Studies and Analysis

The success of health education about non-communicable diseases relies heavily on the close loop and rapport development between the health officials and the communities. Communities are crucial in the various studies conducted on the trends of NCDs in Pakistan. Over the years, both governmental organizations and non-governmental bodies have worked with the locals researching the occurrence of NCDs. Examples of such research include the studies conducted to determine the incidence as well as the risk environments associated with NCDs amongst adults in Pakistani (Rafique et al., 2018). The research concluded that tobacco consumption, poor feeding habits, and lack of physical energy lead to an increase in obesity and hypertension. Thus, community participation through the study led to the identification of Punjab and Sindh as the areas with a high prevalence of NCDs. Additionally, an educational intervention that involves the entire community has increased in the region.

Community Involvement in Decision-making on Non-communicable Diseases Control

Theoretically, people are more responsive in the implementation of the plans and regulations that they are at the central position. According to Adams (2002), the involvement of a community in events such as disaster management increases the chances of success of any health or disaster mitigation endeavor. With this in mind, involving the community in the decision-making regarding NCDs in Pakistan is vital for the success of health education. Community involvement in decision-making primarily manifests during health system research. According to Preston, Waugh, Larkins, & Taylor (2010), community participation denotes the collective or combined involvement of the locals when it comes to establishing and implementing regulations that aim at preserving the health needs of the population. Collective or community decision-making on health education about the non-communicable disease in Pakistan would imply decisions of changes in lifestyles such as barring smoking in public places. Smoking has been the major contributor to the rampant increase in non-communicable diseases in Pakistan.

Community Involvement in Planning and Program Implementation

Planning health education is critically vital. Adequate planning of the activities ensures that there are maximum participation and inclusion of the members of the community. People have different life activities that they attend to during their typical life adventures. Therefore, poor planning of schedules can adversely affect community involvement in health education. Additionally, most of the community education amongst the developing nations involves seminars and workshops that mostly occurs in public places. As a result, members of the community have to affirm the planning and implementation of the health educational programs. Despite the usefulness of community involvement in the planning and implementation processes of health education, there is actual involvement of the community, thus contributing to poor results of the health education about NCDs in Pakistan.

How does the Pakistan Government get involved in Health Education about Non-communicable Diseases?

The government of Pakistan is on the frontline in promoting health education amongst the citizens. Ronis & Nishtar (2007), outlines the numerous ways through which the Pakistan government promote health education with some focus on non-communicable diseases. According to the article, the Pakistani government launched an educational health program to equip the members of the public with relevant information on healthy lifestyles in 2004 (Ronis, & Nishtar, 2007). The strongest tool that the government of Pakistan uses to promote health education, create awareness on the severity of non-communicable diseases and enhance preventive measures against the NCDs is the private-public partnership that it forms in the realm of health (Nishtar, 2005). The government, through the National Action Plan for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Health Promotion in Pakistan (NAP-NCD), has created a framework upon which it provides conducive grounds for health education (Nishtar, 2005).

The (NAP-NCD) has, in some way, been vital in enhancing public health education on the dangers of non-communicable diseases. The body, through government support, has managed to classify and categorize the numerous types of NCDs. Additionally, it has been able to identify the various areas affected by non-communicable diseases. As a result, the regulation of the effects and control of NCDs has been easier due to the corporation between the government, the private sectors, and community-based organizations. The various documentation of the (NAP-NCD) provides important and informative content to the public on NCDs. For instance, the grouping of the NCDs in the (NAP-NCD) documentation has set a road map and action plan for enhancing health ed...