title: Ghana's burden of chronic non-communicable diseases: future directions in research, practice and policy.
abstract: The prevalence of major chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors has increased over time and contributes significantly to the Ghana's disease burden. Conditions like hypertension, stroke and diabetes affect young and old, urban and rural, and wealthy and poor communities. The high cost of care drives the poor further into poverty. Lay awareness and knowledge are limited, health systems (biomedical, ethnomedical and complementary) are weak, and there are no chronic disease policies. These factors contribute to increasing risk, morbidity and mortality. As a result chronic diseases constitute a public health and a developmental problem that should be of urgent concern not only for the Ministry of Health, but also for the Government of Ghana. New directions in research, practice and policy are urgently needed. They should be supported by active partnerships between researchers, policymakers, industry, patient groups, civil society, government and development partners.
authors: Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. adaikins@ug.edu.gh
authors: A
authors: A
authors: de-Graft Aikins
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Addo
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ofei
authors: Wk
authors: W
authors: Bosu
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Agyemang
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans
keywords: Ghana; chronic non-communicable diseases; health systems; policy; research
references: Lancet. 2007 Dec 22;370(9605):2152-7
references: 18063026
references: Global Health. 2010 Apr 19;6:5
references: 20403167
references: Global Health. 2010 Apr 19;6:6
references: 20403170
references: J Urban Health. 2010 Sep;87(5):879-97
references: 20803094
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):12-7
references: 23661812
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):23-8
references: 23661814
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):4-11
references: 23661811
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):29-38
references: 23661815
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):39-45
references: 23661816
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):54-8
references: 23661818
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):69-78
references: 23661820
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):46-53
references: 23661817
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):18-22
references: 23661813
references: Ghana Med J. 2012 Jun;46(2 Suppl):59-68
references: 23661819