Health Promotion Perspectives · Published 2025-11-04 · DOI 10.34172/hpp.025.44311
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) present a significant public health challenge, particularly among India’s tribal populations. This study aims to implement community-based screening to assess the current risk factors for NCDs in a tribal population, estimate the proportion at high risk using a Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC), evaluate the program’s acceptability and fidelity, identify determinants of high-risk groups, and explore reasons for non-attendance at health centers by high-risk individuals. Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 urbanized tribal individuals aged 30-60. Data were collected using a pre-designed, structured, and validated questionnaire in the local language and analyzed with SPSS version 26. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the findings. Results: Of the participants, 88 (37%) were identified as high-risk, while 129 (54.2%) exhibited inadequate awareness of NCDs. The program demonstrated high acceptability (90.5%) but moderate fidelity (45.46%). Among the 88 high-risk individuals, 48 (54.54%) did not visit the primary health center (PHC). In-depth interviews with 10 randomly selected defaulters revealed key barriers, including financial and time constraints, inaccessibility of facilities, and a lack of seriousness and awareness regarding NCDs. Conclusion: The findings underscore an urgent need for multifaceted awareness-raising initiatives to improve NCD prevention and management in tribal populations. Enhanced education and accessibility to healthcare services are crucial for reducing the burden of NCDs in these communities.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →