Prevalence of Non-Communicable Chronic Morbidities (NCCMs) and Associated Factors Among Persons Aged 60 Years And Above in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Wanziima James G, Ndungutse David M, Ndobooli Freddrick and Christopher Ddamulira

Background: The epidemiology of Non-Communicable Chronic Morbidities (NCCMs) is crucial in informing prevention and control initiatives for health systems in the developing world to handle the extra disease burden common in the aging population. Unfortunately, such evidence on the NCCMs and the associated factors remains scarce in Uganda and in Bugisu Sub-Region in particular just like in the rest of the Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, against this background, a study was undertaken to establish the prevalence of NCCMs and its associated factors among the elderly persons aged 60 years and above in Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda.

Methods: A population-based cross sectional study design in which questionnaires and a key interview guide were administered to study subjects as part of the data collection process. Self-report, medical records and checklist of the typical symptoms were adopted in the diagnoses of NCCMs among elderly persons aged 60 years and above in Bulambuli district between late January and February 2020. SPSS software version 20.0 was used for data analysis and a Logistic Regression model was fitted to identify factors that independently influenced prevalence of NCCMs.

Results: A total of 317 subjects aged 60 years were recruited in the study and slightly more than half (55.0%) were less than 70 years and less than half (45.0%) were aged 70 years and above. The general prevalence rate of NCCMs was found to be 85.5%. The prevalence of the specific NCCMs was 71.0% for visual impairment, edentulousness (57.4%), Hypertension (33.4%), Diabetes mellitis (10.4%), Asthma (9.5%) and least common was Stroke at (9.1%). The statistically significant associated factors were family history of NCCMs (AOR = 4.80; 95% CI: 1.88-12.27; p = 0.001), poor state of housing (AOR = 3.22; 95% CI: 1.18-8.75; p = 0.022), cooking in a poorly ventilated kitchen (AOR = 4.53; 95% CI: 1.56-13.19; p = 0.006), and physical inactivity (AOR = 6.13; 95%CI: 2.04-18.46; p= 0.001).

Conclusions: There is generally a high burden of Non-Communicable Chronic Morbidities among elderly persons aged 60 years and above calling for more attention by the Ministry of Health and other ministries responsible for the elderly in Uganda and the developing world in general. There is need to pay attention to housing and kitchen conditions that were found to be significant influencing factors. Clear interventions are required to address the highly prevalent conditions among the elderly to improve on their quality of life.

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