[afro-nets] Non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health

[Fiona Williams <FionaW@ids.ac.uk>]

Non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health
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New topic guide on the HRC/Eldis Health Resource Guide

Non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health: Why are
they still such a low priority on the global health agenda?

Chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental disorders, and
injuries and violence are major public health problems in devel-
oping countries. Together, they account for over 40 per cent of
the disease burden in high mortality developing countries, and
over 75 per cent in lower mortality developing countries. So why
are they so often overlooked by policymakers?

In part, this is due to the common misconception that chronic
diseases and certain mental disorders are "diseases of afflu-
ence", affecting only rich older people, and therefore not a
priority. Violence, despite being a major cause of death, has
not traditionally been seen as a public health issue.

* The HRC/Eldis Health Resource Guide has launched a topic guide
to NCDs, injuries and mental health. Produced in collaboration
with subject experts, it provides a synthesis of the latest
thinking and research on these issues, with summaries of key
readings and links to further resources. Access the topic guide
at: http://www.eldis.org/health/noncommunicablediseases.htm

SOME FACTS ABOUT NCDS, INJURIES AND MENTAL HEALTH

Chronic NCDs:
* Chronic NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
chronic respiratory disease and major cancers, account for 60
per cent of all deaths worldwide, 70 per cent of which occur in
developing countries.

* Rates of premature illness and death from NCDs are greater
among adults in urban centres in developing countries, including
Africa, than in developed countries.

* Prevalence of obesity, a major risk factor for NCDs, rose
among children in China from 1.5 per cent in 1987 to 12.6 per
cent in 1997.

* Less than 0.1 per cent of all health funding from the interna-
tional assistance community is directed towards chronic NCDs.

Visit the Chronic NCDs section of the topic guide at:
http://www.eldis.org/health/NCDs_chronicdiseases.htm For those
with limited internet access, the main text of the guide and
summaries of key readings can be downloaded at:
http://www.eldis.org/fulltext/chronic_ncds.pdf (532 kB)


Injury and violence:
* Injuries, including those caused by violence, account for over
five million deaths worldwide each year.

* In 2000, the rate of violence-related death in low and middle
income countries was more than twice that in high income coun-
tries.

* Injury is the leading cause of death and disability among
children and young adults; the poor are the worst hit. * On the
whole, injuries do not occur at random: they are largely pre-
dictable and, therefore, preventable.

Visit the Injury and violence section of the topic guide at:
http://www.eldis.org/health/NCDs_injury_violence.htm
For those with limited internet access, the main text of the
guide and summaries of key readings can be downloaded at:
http://www.eldis.org/fulltext/injury_violence.pdf (602 KB)


Mental health:
* Of the 450 million people worldwide with mental health prob-
lems, most live in developing countries - mental disorders ac-
count for 5-10 per cent of the burden of disease in those coun-
tries.

* Vulnerable populations, such as the poor and those affected by
disasters, are at greater risk.

* Although mental disorders can be effectively and affordably
treated at local or community level, most of those in need do
not receive any treatment.

* Governments on average allocate less than one per cent of
their health expenditure to mental health, in part due to the
stigma associated with mental disorders.

Visit the Mental health section of the topic guide at:
http://www.eldis.org/health/NCDs_mentalhealth.htm
For those with limited internet access, the main text of the
guide and summaries of key readings can be downloaded at:
http://www.eldis.org/fulltext/mental_health.pdf (590 KB)

* If you are unable to download PDFs and would like them to be
e-mailed to you, please reply to the editor at:
mailto:f.williams@ids.ac.uk

* Please forward details of this new resource to colleagues and
networks who may be interested. If your organisation has a web-
site, please consider adding a link to this topic guide at:
http://www.eldis.org/health/noncommunicablediseases.htm


Fiona Williams
Information & Communications Co-ordinator
DFID Health and Health Systems Resource Centres
Institute of Development Studies
at the University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK
Tel: +44-1273-877540
mailto:f.williams@ids.ac.uk