STOP-2-NCDs: Understanding and preventing multiple disease challenges in urban Uganda, specifically hypertension and diabetes
Description: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in low-income settings in Africa. Using a new population-based cohort the Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO) population health surveillance in urban Uganda, we aim to analyse and prevent the occurrence and determinants of NCDs, specifically hypertension and diabetes, causing lifelong disability and premature death in young adults. NCD research in low-income settings is still in its infancy, but we have a unique opportunity in time to identify effective policy strategies for prevention and early detection, since these chronic conditions are costly and resource-demanding to treat. The NCD rise in urban areas is due to longer life expectancy (reduced child mortality and access to HIV treatment), but also changing dietary, smoking, drinking, transport and work habits. Though poorly known so far, these traditional determinants likely interact with preterm birth/malnourishment, chronic infections (e.g. HIV), antimicrobials, air pollution and stressors related to poverty and gender-based violence. Through a new collaboration between KI and AMBSO, our team is highly qualified to deliver results contributing to future health policy and several of the SDGs (1,3,4,5,11) in Uganda and beyond, directly promoting sustainable development and lifestyles, human rights, gender equality and cultural diversity through education through mutual learning, professional exchange and capacity building (SDG 4.7).
Funder: Vetenskapsrådet
Amount: SEK 747,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Research environment
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2021-12-31
Investigator: Anna Mia Ekström
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Funded outputs count: 1
Funder award ID: 2019-04474
OpenAlex ID: G5516799986