Abstract:

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) are of public health concern associated with significant high morbidity and mortality rate globally. Non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) in developing countries is attributed to late diagnosis. A recent survey on the burden of NCD risk factors in Tanzania showed that the burden of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is high with the prevalence of hypertension estimated to be around 26%.

Objectives. To determine awareness of non-communicable diseases in communities of Nyamagana district, specifically awareness of risk factors and preventive measures of non-communicable diseases.

Methodology; This is a cross sectional study involving people aged more than 18 years done from August 2021 to January 2022. The total number of 195 participants in Nyamagana district have been involved. A presented structured questionnaire has been used to determine awareness of non-communicable diseases among communities. Data has been analyzed through IBM SPSS20 computer program.

Results; Among the participants, 72.4%, 50%, 71.4% and 61.3% were aware of the risk factors of diabetes, stroke, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases respectively. 71.2%, 48%, 67% and 57% were aware of the preventive measures of diabetes, stroke, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases respectively.

Conclusion; The findings of this study have shown that people of Nyamagana district have fair awareness about risk factors and preventive measures of non-communicable diseases.