The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced the start of the implementation of the National STEPwise Survey 2023 for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their common risk factors from May 25, 2023.
The STEPwise survey is a standardized survey developed by World Health Organization (WHO) and will be carried out in collaboration with the Planning & Statistics Authority (PSA), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
The survey is a second cycle of STEPwise surveys, as a follow-up to the 2012 survey, to provide a database on chronic non-communicable diseases and their related risk factors in the state of Qatar such as tobacco use, lack of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, obesity, hypertension, increased blood glucose and increased blood fat. It will enable the MOPH to develop National Action plans, within the National Health Strategy, for controlling these diseases and their risk factors.
The survey will be carried out by visiting more than 8500 homes of Qatari nationals and non-Qatari residents after a random sample is selected from household lists, based on the Population Census, 2020. The participants of the survey will be in the age group between 15 and 69 Years, randomly selected from these selected households.
The survey is conducted by field teams visiting the homes of the families participating in the survey during its implementation period, during weekdays except for Friday, as visits are carried out from Sunday to Thursday between 4 PM and 9 PM, and on Saturdays between 9 AM and 2 PM.
The well-trained data collection teams will conduct visits and a questionnaire will be filled out on common risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases including tobacco use, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity as well as physical measurements, such as height, weight, and waist circumference. Urine Samples will be collected for urinary sodium and creatinine. The Blood tests for Blood glucose and lipids by Finger prick method will be conducted on the second visit to the household.
MoPH Director of Public Health Department, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, said, “Qatar recognizes the impact of NCDs and reaffirms its commitment to tackling them and their related risk factors. The survey data will serve as evidence-based information for formulating action plans under the National Health strategy for tackling NCDs and for monitoring the prevalence of risk factors.” Nasser Saleh Almohdi, Director of the Census Department, PSA, stressed the importance of joint cooperation between different government institutions in the fields of health research. He added that compiling the most updated and scientifically accurate data for NCDs and their risk factors is a vital national task, the findings of which will help in improving health services to the community.
Dr. Kholoud Ateeq Al Motawaa, Head of the NCD Department at MOPH and National Team lead for the STEPwise survey explained that this survey is important because it provides an opportunity for international comparisons and highlights the health needs related to NCDs in the country. The results of this study will be used to assist the Ministry of Public Health develop public health programs that target efforts to lower the risk factors that lead to NCDs.
The Ministry of Public Health calls to fully cooperate with the fieldwork teams conducting the survey, who have identification cards for the survey, and provide them with all the information required including blood and urine tests to complete the survey as fast as possible. The Ministry of Public Health affirms the confidentiality of the information.
Source: Qatar News Agency