Individual and community experience of rising burden of non-communicable diseases in two case districts of Nepal: a qualitative exploration
Individual and community experience of rising burden of non-communicable diseases in two case districts of Nepal: a qualitative exploration
Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a rapidly emerging global health challenge with multi-level determinants popularly known as social determinants. The objective of this paper is to describe the individual and community experiences of NCDs in the two case districts of Nepal from a social determinants of health perspective. Method: This study adopted qualitative study design to identify the experiences of NCDs. Sixty-three interviews were conducted with key informants from different sectors pertinent to NCD prevention at two case districts and at the policy level in Nepal. Twelve focus group discussions were conducted in the selected communities within those case districts. Data collection and analysis were informed by the adapted Social Determinants of Health Framework. The research team utilised the framework approach to carry out the thematic analysis. The study also involved three sense-making workshops with policy level and local stakeholders. Results: Three key themes emerged during the analysis. The first theme highlighted that individuals and communities were experiencing the rising burden of NCDs and metabolic risks in both urban and rural areas. The other two themes elaborated on the participant’s experiences based on their socio-economic background and gender. Disadvantaged populations were more vulnerable to the risk of NCDs. Further, being female put one into an even more disadvantaged position in experiencing NCD risks and accessing health services. Conclusion: The findings indicated that key social determinants such as age, geographical location, socio-economic status and gender were driving the NCD epidemic. There is an urgent need to take action on social determinants of health through multi-sectoral action, thus also translating the spirit of the recommendations made a decade ago by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health in addressing a complex challenge like NCDs in Nepal.
NCDs, Nepal, metabolic risks, social determinants
Sharma, Sudesh R.
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Matheson, Anna
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Lambrick, Danielle
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Faulkner, James
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Lounsbury, David
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Vaidya, Abhinav
e8484453-377f-49c8-8621-bbc1e4f2bbb9
Page, Rachel
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12 April 2021
Sharma, Sudesh R.
0399771e-d420-45c0-b45d-444157c3ff50
Matheson, Anna
2133f82f-b99f-4e23-8325-5915478c127d
Lambrick, Danielle
1deafa4b-acf3-4eff-83c9-f8274e47e993
Faulkner, James
1bedc0f0-8fa4-4bf3-8e31-abd084b0c148
Lounsbury, David
b2143e32-1a15-4684-ac8c-f936af4d98f0
Vaidya, Abhinav
e8484453-377f-49c8-8621-bbc1e4f2bbb9
Page, Rachel
6e7cbe74-9f19-45b8-959d-b32f8ac41d69
Sharma, Sudesh R., Matheson, Anna, Lambrick, Danielle, Faulkner, James, Lounsbury, David, Vaidya, Abhinav and Page, Rachel
(2021)
Individual and community experience of rising burden of non-communicable diseases in two case districts of Nepal: a qualitative exploration.
Global Health Promotion.
(doi:10.1177/17579759211001718).
Abstract
Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a rapidly emerging global health challenge with multi-level determinants popularly known as social determinants. The objective of this paper is to describe the individual and community experiences of NCDs in the two case districts of Nepal from a social determinants of health perspective. Method: This study adopted qualitative study design to identify the experiences of NCDs. Sixty-three interviews were conducted with key informants from different sectors pertinent to NCD prevention at two case districts and at the policy level in Nepal. Twelve focus group discussions were conducted in the selected communities within those case districts. Data collection and analysis were informed by the adapted Social Determinants of Health Framework. The research team utilised the framework approach to carry out the thematic analysis. The study also involved three sense-making workshops with policy level and local stakeholders. Results: Three key themes emerged during the analysis. The first theme highlighted that individuals and communities were experiencing the rising burden of NCDs and metabolic risks in both urban and rural areas. The other two themes elaborated on the participant’s experiences based on their socio-economic background and gender. Disadvantaged populations were more vulnerable to the risk of NCDs. Further, being female put one into an even more disadvantaged position in experiencing NCD risks and accessing health services. Conclusion: The findings indicated that key social determinants such as age, geographical location, socio-economic status and gender were driving the NCD epidemic. There is an urgent need to take action on social determinants of health through multi-sectoral action, thus also translating the spirit of the recommendations made a decade ago by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health in addressing a complex challenge like NCDs in Nepal.
Text
Sharma et al. (2021). Individual and community experience of rising burden on non-communicable diseasesExperience_GHP 251119(1)
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 February 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 12 April 2021
Published date: 12 April 2021
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This paper is part of the doctoral study of the first author, which was financially supported by Massey University Doctoral Scholarship and Massey University Graduate Research Support. The funding support did not influence the study in anyway. There is no external funding to report.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords:
NCDs, Nepal, metabolic risks, social determinants
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Local EPrints ID: 449479
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449479
ISSN: 1757-9759
PURE UUID: cd13db2c-e57a-437f-b23a-f30916b4218a
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Date deposited: 02 Jun 2021 16:34
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:37
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Contributors
Author:
Sudesh R. Sharma
Author:
Anna Matheson
Author:
James Faulkner
Author:
David Lounsbury
Author:
Abhinav Vaidya
Author:
Rachel Page
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