Staff Writer
With a goal of including 8,500 homes, the National STEPwise Survey 2023 for non-communicable diseases has enormous potential to influence public health policies and actions.
A total of 2,389 households have been visited and 2,238 interviews have been held since the survey’s first phase began on May 25, 2023. According to Dr. Kholoud Ateeq Al Motawaa, director of non-communicable diseases at the Ministry of Public Health, on any given day, 172 participants successfully complete the first phase of the survey.
The survey is a follow-up STEPwise survey intended to build a database on chronic non-communicable diseases in Qatar and the risk factors that contribute to them. The information from the data will be used to create action plans for preventing these diseases and associated risk factors as part of the National Health Strategy.
The public’s participation is essential because population-level surveys like STEPwise are the most widely used methods for gathering data and provide an accurate representation of the health needs of the general public. Furthermore, huge amounts of resources are used to carry out these national-level surveys, and public engagement is essential to getting the most out of them, according to Dr. Al Motawaa.
The majority of all diseases, including those in Qatar, that affect people worldwide are non-communicable. According to the 2012 National STEPwise Survey 2023 for non-communicable diseases, about 17% of Qataris between the ages of 18 and 64 had elevated blood sugar, and 33% had elevated blood pressure.
“Many of these ailments are preventable. As is well known, early access to precise and trustworthy information about the incidence of these diseases and their associated risk factors is essential for taking effective preventative and control measures.
She claims that in 2012, a sample size of 2,400 people between the ages of 18 and 64 was limited to inhabitants of Qatar. More than 8,500 people, aged 15 to 69, from both Qatari and non-Qatari communities will be included in the sample in 2023.
According to Dr. Al Motawaa, “the survey also uses cutting-edge technology for data collection in tablets and many additional modules about smoking and mental health are also included.” A questionnaire on common risk factors for chronic non-communicable illnesses, such as cigarette use, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, etc., is used as the first step in the STEPs risk factor surveillance procedure. Simple physical measurements including height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure are part of STEP 2. The survey’s STEPs 1 and 2 will be finished by August 31. STEP 3 consists of blood tests for glucose and blood fats using a finger prick, as well as urine samples for checking urinary salt and creatinine to estimate the average.
One participant between the ages of 15 and 69 is chosen by the data collection teams when they visit the chosen households.
The survey teams go door-to-door between 4 pm and 9 pm on Saturday through Thursday, choosing participants for the interview and measurements.
“The survey’s data is treated with the strictest confidentially and is solely used for statistical analysis. The survey teams are in possession of an official letter from the Ministry of Public Health and Planning and Statistics Authority ID cards. The Ministry’s website and social media channels also have information on the survey.
