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Review
. 2022 May 16;41(1):22.
doi: 10.1186/s41043-022-00294-x.

Assuring Bangladesh's future: non-communicable disease risk factors among the adolescents and the existing policy responses

Tuhin Biswas  1   2 , Peter Azzopardi  3 , Syeda Novera Anwar  4 , Tim David de Vries  5 , Luis Manuel Encarnacion-Cruz  6 , Md Mehedi Hasan  7   8 , M Mamun Huda  7   8 , Sonia Pervin  7   8   9 , Rajat Das Gupta  10 , Dipak Kumar Mitra  11 , Lal B Rawal  12 , Abdullah Al Mamun  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Assuring Bangladesh's future: non-communicable disease risk factors among the adolescents and the existing policy responses

Tuhin Biswas et al. J Health Popul Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the current status of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors amongst adolescents in Bangladesh. We also critically reviewed the existing policy responses to NCD risk among adolescents in Bangladesh.

Methods: This study used a mixed method approach. To quantify the NCD risk burden, we used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in Bangladesh. To understand policy response, we reviewed NCD-related policy documents introduced by the Government of Bangladesh between 1971 and 2018 using the WHO recommended NCD Action Plan 2013-2020as study framework. Information from the policy documents was extracted using a matrix, mapping each document against the six objectives of the WHO 2013-2020 Action Plan.

Results: Almost all adolescents in Bangladesh had at least one NCD risk factor, and there was a high prevalence of concurrent multiple NCD risk factors; 14% had one NCD risk factor while 22% had two, 29% had three, 34% had four or more NCD risk factors. Out of 38 policy documents, eight (21.1%) were related to research and/or surveys, eight (21.1%) were on established policies, and eleven (29%) were on legislation acts. Three policy documents (7.9%) were related to NCD guidelines and eight (21.1%) were strategic planning which were introduced by the government and non-government agencies/institutes in Bangladesh.

Conclusions: The findings emphasize the needs for strengthening NCD risk factors surveillance and introducing appropriate intervention strategies targeted to adolescents. Despite the Government of Bangladesh introducing several NCD-related policies and programs, the government also needs more focus on clear planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation approaches to preventing NCD risk factors among the adolescents in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Adolescents; Bangladesh; Health policy; Non-communicable disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
NCD risk factors among the adolescents in Bangladesh
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Clustering NCD risk factors among the adolescents in Bangladesh
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Timeline of major policy formulation and program initiatives relevant to adolescent NCDs in Bangladesh
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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