Search resultsCommunity-based noncommunicable disease interventions: Lessons from developed countries for developing ones
Title
Community-based noncommunicable disease interventions: Lessons from developed countries for developing ones
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2001
Authors
Journal
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume
79
Issue
10
Pagination
963 - 970
Date published
2001
ISBN
00429686 (ISSN)
Keywords
cardiovascular disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiovascular diseases/prevention and control, Chronic Disease, community care, Community health services/organization and administration, Cost of Illness, Developed Countries, developed country, Developing Countries, Developing countries (source: MeSH), developing country, disease control, disease prevalence, Europe, Finland, Health Behavior, health care, health care policy, health program, health promotion, human, Humans, Intersectoral cooperation, prevalence, Preventive Health Services, Program Development, Program Evaluation, review, risk factor, Risk Factors, United States, World Health, World Health Organization
Abstract
Community-based programmes for prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) started in Europe and the USA in the early 1970s. High mortality from CVD in Finland led to the start of the North Karelia Project. Since then, a vast amount of scientific literature has accumulated to present results and discuss experience. The results indicate that heart health programmes have a high degree of generalizability, are cost-effective and can influence health policy. In the 1980s the focus of programmes expanded from CVD to noncommunicable diseases (NCD), mainly because of the common risk factors. Attention has now turned to promoting this approach in developing countries, where the prevalence of NCD is growing. Theory and experience show that community-based NCD programmes should be planned, run and evaluated according to clear principles and rules, collaborate with all sectors of the community, and maintain close contact with the national authorities. In view of the burden of disease they represent and of globalization, there is a great need for international collaboration. Practical networks with common guidelines but adaptable to local cultures in a flexible way have proved to be very useful.