An Integrated Management System for Noncommunicable Diseases Program Implementation in a Sub-Saharan Setting

Maria Agata Miselli, Francesco Cavallin, Samwel Marwa, Bruno Ndunguru, Rehema John Itambu, Katunzi Mutalemwa, Monica Rizzi, Giulia Ciccarelli, Simone Conte, Stefano Taddei, Gaetano Azzimonti, Giovanni Putoto and Giovanni Fernando Torelli
Additional contact information
Maria Agata Miselli: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Francesco Cavallin: Independent Statistician, 36020 Solagna, Italy
Samwel Marwa: District Medical Office, Iringa District Council, Iringa P.O. Box 162, Tanzania
Bruno Ndunguru: District Medical Office, Iringa District Council, Iringa P.O. Box 162, Tanzania
Rehema John Itambu: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Katunzi Mutalemwa: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Monica Rizzi: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Giulia Ciccarelli: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Simone Conte: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Stefano Taddei: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Gaetano Azzimonti: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tosamaganga, Iringa P.O. Box 11, Tanzania
Giovanni Putoto: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, 35121 Padua, Italy
Giovanni Fernando Torelli: Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 23447, Tanzania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Morbidity and mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are growing exponentially across Tanzania. The limited availability of dedicated services and the disparity between rural and urban areas represent key factors for the increased burden of NCDs in the country. From March 2019, an integrated management system was started in the Iringa District Council. The system implements an integrated management of hypertension and diabetes between the hospital and the peripheral health centers and introduces the use of paper-based treatment cards. The aim of the study was to present the results of the first 6 months’ roll-out of the system, which included 542 patients. Data showed that 46.1% of patients returned for the reassessment visit (±1 month), more than 98.4% of patients had blood pressure measured and were checked for complication, more than 88.6% of patients had blood sugar tested during follow-up visit, and blood pressure was at target in 42.8% of patients with hypertension and blood sugar in 37.3% of diabetic patients. Most patients who were lost to follow-up or did not reach the targets were those without medical insurance or living in remote peripheries. Our findings suggest that integrated management systems connecting primary health facilities and referral hospitals may be useful in care and follow-up of patients with hypertension and diabetes.

Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa; noncommunicable diseases; hypertension; diabetes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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