Kagaruki Gibson B, Karoli Peter Mathias, Rutahoile Willfredius M, Chillo Pilly, Mutagaywa Reuben, Banduka Aidan, Majaliwa Edna Siima, Nyarubamba Renatus Fabiano, Mtumbuka Esther, Mallya Elizabeth, Mutalemwa Katunzi, Bazzanin Noemi, Soka Deogratias, Jonathan Agnes, Urasa Sarah, Magoma Best, Kazingo Lucas J, Ammi Heriel Z, Donald Emiliana K, Mwenesano David Raymond, Kilonzo Kajiru, Mori Amani T, Ramaiya Kaushik, Mary Mayige T
National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR).
Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH).
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 15;20(4):e0321695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321695. eCollection 2025.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have increased significantly in Tanzania, accounting for 33% of mortality in the country. Having adequate knowledge translated into practice has a significant effect on the health of individuals through adoption of positive behaviours and influencing better health seeking behaviours. For those already affected by NCDs, it promotes secondary and tertiary prevention by helping them effectively cope with the disease. In this study, we aimed to determine the level and determinants of NCDs knowledge in the community to inform the implementation of WHO PEN- Plus initiatives.
This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2023 involving 528 adults aged 25-64 years from two purposely selected districts and 11, 22 and 528 randomly selected wards, villages, and households respectively. Information on socio-economic, demographic, NCDs knowledge were collected from each participant. Chi-square test and Modified Poisson Regression were applied to assess the association and determinants of NCDs knowledge level.
The median age of study participants was 40.5 years. Less than half 42.6%(n=225) were aware of the term NCD and less than one third were aware of the NCD conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) 15.3%(n=70), Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) 25.2%(n=133), Rheumatic fever 28.6%(n=151) and Heart failure 33.1%(n=175). Good level of awareness was reported on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) 79.5%(n=364). More than three quarters of the respondents had low knowledge on T1DM (90.3%), SCD (84.1%), Rheumatic fever (81.3%), NCDs (80.5%) and Heart failure (76.1%). Furthermore, more than half (56.4%) of respondents had low knowledge for T2DM. Adjusted analysis indicated that, for all NCDs except SCD, low knowledge was significantly associated with the district of residence (Kondoa). Low knowledge of NCDs, T2DM, and SCD was significantly associated with having no education, or having only primary or secondary education. Individuals from the lowest, second, middle, and fourth socio-economic status families were significantly associated with low knowledge of NCDs, while the lowest and fourth socio-economic status levels were associated with low knowledge of T2DM and SCD.
Low knowledge was observed for all NCDs conditions and socio-economic and demographic characteristics were associated with low knowledge. Interventions to increase NCDs knowledge should consider the socio-economic determinants.
在坦桑尼亚，非传染性疾病（NCDs）显著增加，占该国死亡率的33%。将足够的知识转化为实践，通过采用积极的行为和影响更好的健康寻求行为，对个人健康有显著影响。对于那些已经受到非传染性疾病影响的人，它通过帮助他们有效应对疾病来促进二级和三级预防。在本研究中，我们旨在确定社区中非传染性疾病知识的水平和决定因素，以为世界卫生组织“强化初级卫生保健（PEN-Plus）”倡议的实施提供信息。
这项横断面研究于2023年5月至6月进行，涉及来自两个特意选定地区的528名年龄在25至64岁之间的成年人，以及分别随机选定的11个、22个和528个病房、村庄和家庭。从每个参与者那里收集了关于社会经济、人口统计学、非传染性疾病知识的信息。应用卡方检验和修正泊松回归来评估非传染性疾病知识水平的关联和决定因素。
研究参与者的年龄中位数为40.5岁。不到一半（42.6%，n = 225）的人知晓非传染性疾病这个术语，不到三分之一的人知晓非传染性疾病状况，如1型糖尿病（T1DM）为15.3%（n = 70）、镰状细胞病（SCD）为25.2%（n = 133）、风湿热为28.6%（n = 151）以及心力衰竭为33.1%（n = 175）。据报告，2型糖尿病（T2DM）的知晓率较高，为79.5%（n = 364）。超过四分之三的受访者对1型糖尿病（90.3%）、镰状细胞病（84.1%）、风湿热（ 81.3%）、非传染性疾病（80.5%）和心力衰竭（76.1%）的知识水平较低。此外，超过一半（56.4%）的受访者对2型糖尿病的知识水平较低。校正分析表明，对于除镰状细胞病之外的所有非传染性疾病，知识水平较低与居住地区（孔多阿）显著相关。非传染性疾病、2型糖尿病和镰状细胞病的知识水平较低与未受过教育、或仅受过小学或中学教育显著相关。来自最低、第二、中等和第四社会经济地位家庭的个体与非传染性疾病知识水平较低显著相关，而最低和第四社会经济地位水平与2型糖尿病和镰状细胞病的知识水平较低相关。
观察到所有非传染性疾病状况的知识水平较低，且社会经济和人口统计学特征与知识水平较低相关。增加非传染性疾病知识的干预措施应考虑社会经济决定因素。
