Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries
Background: During health emergencies, continuity of care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health (MH), informed by robust surveillance, is required. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that many countries were ill-prepared in this respect. Aim: This study assesses the effect of COVID-19...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/861 |
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| author | Adelard Kakunze Fabian Moser Betty K. Ingabire Dumsani N. Mamba Giselle Sarganas Eva P. Renggli Michael Zobi Angela Fehr Mohammed Abdulaziz |
| author_facet | Adelard Kakunze Fabian Moser Betty K. Ingabire Dumsani N. Mamba Giselle Sarganas Eva P. Renggli Michael Zobi Angela Fehr Mohammed Abdulaziz |
| author_sort | Adelard Kakunze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: During health emergencies, continuity of care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health (MH), informed by robust surveillance, is required. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that many countries were ill-prepared in this respect.
Aim: This study assesses the effect of COVID-19 on the continuity of care and surveillance of NCDs and MH in 10 African Union (AU) member states (MS) from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Setting: The study was conducted in 10 AU MS, with two MS from each AU region.
Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was developed. Member states were selected using stratified random sampling, and individual participants were selected from the ministries of health as national NCD and MH focal persons. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
Results: All 10 MS responded. In two-thirds and half of participating MS, routine surveillance for NCDs and MH took place, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, where data were available, several MS observed increases in NCD and MH risk factors and NCD mortality and MH morbidity. Half of the MS integrated NCDs and MH into emergency preparedness and response plans and activities.
Conclusion: The MS had varied levels of national NCD and MH surveillance practices. Where data were available, most observed negative effects on NCDs and MH during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the integration of NCDs and MH in emergency preparedness and response planning was limited, some countries responded with innovative measures to ensure continuity of care.
Contribution: The study provides insights for improving public health surveillance and emergency response systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2ca1b4caba9a4cb19a18c4c1e36a53d0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-2ca1b4caba9a4cb19a18c4c1e36a53d02025-08-20T03:19:28ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-05-01161e1e910.4102/jphia.v16i1.861866Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countriesAdelard Kakunze0Fabian Moser1Betty K. Ingabire2Dumsani N. Mamba3Giselle Sarganas4Eva P. Renggli5Michael Zobi6Angela Fehr7Mohammed Abdulaziz8Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Unit of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis AbabaCentre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, BerlinDivision of Disease Control and Prevention, Unit of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis AbabaDivision of Disease Control and Prevention, Unit of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis AbabaDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Unit of Physical Health, Robert Koch Institute, BerlinCentre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, BerlinCentre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, BerlinCentre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, BerlinDivision of Disease Control and Prevention, Unit of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis AbabaBackground: During health emergencies, continuity of care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health (MH), informed by robust surveillance, is required. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that many countries were ill-prepared in this respect. Aim: This study assesses the effect of COVID-19 on the continuity of care and surveillance of NCDs and MH in 10 African Union (AU) member states (MS) from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: The study was conducted in 10 AU MS, with two MS from each AU region. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was developed. Member states were selected using stratified random sampling, and individual participants were selected from the ministries of health as national NCD and MH focal persons. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: All 10 MS responded. In two-thirds and half of participating MS, routine surveillance for NCDs and MH took place, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, where data were available, several MS observed increases in NCD and MH risk factors and NCD mortality and MH morbidity. Half of the MS integrated NCDs and MH into emergency preparedness and response plans and activities. Conclusion: The MS had varied levels of national NCD and MH surveillance practices. Where data were available, most observed negative effects on NCDs and MH during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the integration of NCDs and MH in emergency preparedness and response planning was limited, some countries responded with innovative measures to ensure continuity of care. Contribution: The study provides insights for improving public health surveillance and emergency response systems.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/861emergency preparedness and responsepandemicmental healthncdsdata |
| spellingShingle | Adelard Kakunze Fabian Moser Betty K. Ingabire Dumsani N. Mamba Giselle Sarganas Eva P. Renggli Michael Zobi Angela Fehr Mohammed Abdulaziz Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries Journal of Public Health in Africa emergency preparedness and response pandemic mental health ncds data |
| title | Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries |
| title_full | Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries |
| title_fullStr | Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries |
| title_short | Effects of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 African Union member countries |
| title_sort | effects of covid 19 on non communicable diseases and their surveillance in 10 african union member countries |
| topic | emergency preparedness and response pandemic mental health ncds data |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/861 |
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