Changes in the prevalence of the common risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Uganda between 2014 and 2023: Informed by nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

Abstract

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the biggest contributor to global mortality. Although communicable diseases still contribute highest to mortality in the African region, the proportion contributed by NCDs continues to rise. An important way to control NCDs is to focus on reducing the prevalence of the common NCD risk factors. As such, monitoring changes in the prevalence of these risk factors is essential for better NCD prevention planning. Uganda conducted its first nationally representative NCD risk factor survey in 2014, and a second in 2023. We analyzed the prevalence of the common NCD risk factors using data from the two surveys to identify which risk factors changed between 2014 and 2023.