Abstract
Background: The International Network of field sites with continuous Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (INDEPTH) has 34 Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in 17 different low and middle-income countries. Of these, 23 sites are in Africa, 10 sites are in Asia, and one in Oceania. The INDEPTH HDSS sites in Asia identified chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a neglected area of attention. As a first step, they conducted NCD risk factor surveys within nine sites in five countries. These sites are now looking to broaden the agenda of research on NCDs using the baseline data to inform policy and practice.Methods: A conceptual framework for translating research into action for NCDs at INDEPTH sites was developed. This had five steps – assess the problem, understand the nature of the problem, evaluate different interventions in research mode, implement evidence-based interventions in programme mode, and finally, share knowledge and provide leadership to communities and countries. Ballabgarh HDSS site in India has successfully adopted these steps and is used as a case study to demonstrate how this progress was achieved and what factors were responsible for a successful outcome.Results: Most of the HDSS sites are in the second step of the process of translating research to action (understand the problem). The conduct of NCD risk factor surveys has enabled an assessment of the burden of NCD risk together with determinants in order to understand the burden at the population level. The experience from Ballabgarh HDSS exemplifies that the following steps – pilot testing the interventions, implementing activities in programme mode, and finally, share knowledge and provide leadership – are also possible in rural settings in low-income countries. The critical success factors identified were involvement of a premier medical institution, pre-existing links to policy makers and programme managers, strong commitment of the HDSS team and adequate human resource capacity.Conclusion: All INDEPTH HDSS sites now need to strengthen their links to health systems at different levels and enhance their capacity to engage different stakeholders in their respective country settings so as to translate the current knowledge into actions that can benefit the health of the population they serve and beyond.
Highlights
The International Network of field sites with continuous Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (INDEPTH) has 34 Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in 17 different low and middle-income countries
The objective of this paper is to describe the experience of Ballabgarh HDSS in the area of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) surveillance, prevention and control, and to discuss the potential contribution that other sites can provide in strengthening NCD prevention and control in the South-east Asian Region
A workshop in World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) methodology was organised for participants from INDEPTH Á Asia HDSS, after which NCD risk factor surveillance activities were initiated in their respective sites
Summary
The International Network of field sites with continuous Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (INDEPTH) has 34 Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in 17 different low and middle-income countries. In 2002, ‘Surveillance for Demographic, Environment and Health Information (SUDEHI)’ was initiated at the HDSS with the objective of collecting information on human behaviour which predisposes the population to both common communicable diseases and NCDs, and to ascertain health care seeking behaviour It included questions on NCD risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, consumption of excess fats and oils, and leisure time physical activities in the past week, mean number of days of consumption of vegetables and fruits, soft drinks, fried food, sweets and whether or not blood pressure had been measured in the last year. A workshop in WHO STEPS methodology was organised for participants from INDEPTH Á Asia HDSS, after which NCD risk factor surveillance activities were initiated in their respective sites The outcome of these efforts have been the conduct of multiple risk factor surveys in the countries of this region with more than 100 people being trained in the WHO STEPwise approach to NCD surveillance. Reports from other INDEPTH sites, in Africa, have brought out the potential of HDSS sites to measure mortality and morbidity differentials, addressing the issue
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
