Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH
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Trop. Med. Int. Health · Oct 2008
ReviewNon-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: context, determinants and health policy.
The rise of non-communicable diseases and their impact in low- and middle-income countries has gained increased attention in recent years. However, the explanation for this rise is mostly an extrapolation from the history of high-income countries whose experience differed from the development processes affecting today's low- and middle-income countries. ⋯ Health policies for non-communicable diseases are considered in terms of interventions to reduce population risk and individual susceptibility and the research needs for low- and middle-income countries are discussed. Finally, the need for health system reform to strengthen primary care is highlighted as a major policy to reduce the toll of this rising epidemic.