Mortality from non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors in Zambia; analysis of the sample vital registration with verbal autopsy 2015/2016.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world's growing cause of preventable illness, disability, morbidity, and mortality which account for 71% of deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with mortality from NCDs among persons aged 15 years and above in Zambia. METHODOLOGY: The study used data from Sample Vital Registration with Verbal Autopsy (SAVVY) 2015/16 (Zambia). A total of 3529 Verbal Autopsy were completed in the study, with only 2599 of death where among people aged 15 years and above. Three-level data analysis was applied; univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression). FINDINGS: The overall number of deaths from NCDs was 28.81%. Stratified analysis by gender showed that deaths from NCDs were higher among women (32.60%) as compared to men (26.25%). Among all persons, dying from NCDs was associated with tobacco use, age, and education. Tobacco use was negatively associated with mortality from NCDs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-0.98). Age was positively associated with the odds of dying from NCDs among persons aged 45-59 years (aOR = 3.87, 95% CI 2.13-7.01), 60-74 years (aOR = 12.05, 95% CI 6.44-22.55), and 75 + years (aOR = 15.16, 95% CI 7.93-28.97). The likelihood of dying from NCDs was higher among persons with secondary education as compared to those with no education (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.11-3.33). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that public health interventions targeting NCDs need to consider behavioural factors, especially tobacco use which exposes people to second-hand smoke. We also recommend large-scale national-level studies to further examine the contribution of each factor leading to mortality from NCDs.