A Case Study of Community-Level Intervention for Non-Communicable Diseases in Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a major cause of mortality globally, but especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), where nearly 80 per cent of all NCD related deaths occur.

There has been a growing interest in tackling the burden of NCDs in South Africa. In September 2011, the South African government convened a summit on the ‘Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases’ which produced a declaration that endorsed action aimed at various levels of risk factors, i.e. behavioural, environmental and structural, and further acknowledged the need for intersectoral collaboration.

This case study looks at the town of Khayelitsha in South Africa, focusing in particular on the health of women and girls in a rapidly urbanising setting. It outlines the intervention as it was implemented in stages between 2001–2005. Further sections report on the interviews that were conducted, discuss the interview data and reflect upon the implications for the current policy plans for addresses the burden of NCDs in South Africa. It then concludes with a view to future interventions to address the NCD burden, specifically for women and girls, in contexts like Khayelitsha.