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Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers, are major global public health problems. However, incidences and severe consequences of these diseases are widespread in developing countries, including Ethiopia. These diseases mainly occur in adults, substantially impacting the country’s economic development. The growing nature of NCDs and the persistently high rates of infectious and maternal and child health problems in the country overwhelm the healthcare system response, and prevention programs are lacking in the population. I conducted this study in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia, to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about NCDs. I also reviewed metabolic risk factors among adults in Ethiopia and the effectiveness of message-based interventions for weight loss among adults in developing countries. The findings of this study show high rates of NCDs and risk factors in the population, a low level of population awareness, and insufficient risk perceptions. These results emphasize the need for targeted public health programs to prevent and control the rising nature of these diseases.

Bio

Tilahun is a PhD candidate in the Department of Global Health of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. He completed his BSc and MSc in Health sciences and has worked as an academic staff in Ethiopian universities. Tilahun commenced his study in 2020, and since then, he has participated in various career development workshops, fieldwork, and research works as part of his study. He also participates as an author and peer reviewer of scholarly articles in international peer-reviewed journals.