Aging and the Rising Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries Posted on 21/01/2020 (24/01/2020) by guest244@aphrc.org PUBLICATIONS RESOURCES // PUBLICATIONS General Aging and the Rising Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries Population Dynamics and Sexual Reproductive Health and Right January 2020 Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a prevalent and growing burden among older cohorts in sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as in many wealthier parts of the world. This stems from the combined effects of factors such as demographic aging, behavioral transitions, and developmental origins of health and disease. A crucial characteristic of many NCDs is that their personal and family impacts and costs are not accurately reflected in mortality data. Their effects are often chronic and long-term and can cause morbidity, loss of work ability, and impaired quality of life over a prolonged period. Unless addressed seriously, the continuing increase of NCDs and their burden in sub-Saharan African countries and other LMICs will almost certainly undermine progress toward achieving the target of reducing by 25% premature mortality from NCDs in these countries by 2025 and also one-third reduction of NCDs target by 2030. To have any chance of meeting or even getting near to these targets, this article calls for action by national and regional governments to strengthen universal health coverage (UHC), economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, public–private partnerships, effective fiscal regulation, and public education on NCDs, their risk factors and impacts in sub-Saharan Africa in particular and most LMICs globally. Download CONTRIBUTORS SIMILAR PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Who are the male sexual partners of adolescent girls and young women? Comparative analysis of population data in three settings prior to DREAMS roll-out Journal Articles Who Are the Male Sexual Partners of Adolescent Girls and Young Women? Comparative Analysis of Population Data in Three Settings Prior to Dreams Roll-Out Briefing Papers What it takes: Meeting unmet need for family planning in East Africa Factsheet Understanding the Lived Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in Burkina Faso’s Central Region (English) Factsheet Understanding the Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in Blantyre, Southern Malawi Briefing Papers Understanding the Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in Blantyre, Southern Malawi Technical Reports Understanding the Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents in Blantyre, Southern Malawi Journal Articles Timing of Sexual Debut among Unmarried Youths aged 15–24 years in sub-Saharan Africa Briefing Papers The Status of Post-Abortion Care in Kenya