Community-based interventions for health promotion and disease prevention in noncommunicable diseases: A narrative review.

PURPOSE

Noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention is emerging as a public health priority in developing countries. For better health outcome in these countries, it is necessary to understand the different community-based interventions developed and implemented across the world.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current review is to identify the best strategies used in community-based health intervention (CBHI) programs across the world.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For review, we searched in PubMed and Google Scholar with the keywords "community based," "health interventions," "health promotions," "primary prevention," chronic diseases," "lifestyle-related diseases," and "NCD." Data were extracted using predesigned data extraction form. CBHI studies detailing their intervention strategies only were included in the review.

RESULTS

Out of 35 articles reviewed, 14 (40%) were randomized control trials, while 18 (51.4%) were quasi-experimental design. Individual level ( = 14), group level ( = 5), community level ( = 6), and policy level ( = 4) intervention strategies were identified. Twenty-three (64%) studies were based on interventions for 1 year and above. Twenty-eight (80%) studies were intervened among specific populations such as Latinos and so on.

CONCLUSION

Successful programs advocate for a package or a chain of interventions than a single intervention. The type of interventions at different levels, namely individual, group, community, and policy levels vary across studies, but individual, and group level interventions are more frequently used.