USP Electronic Research Repository

Some aspects of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries

Gani, Azmat (2009) Some aspects of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries. Social Indicators Research, 91 (2). pp. 171-187. ISSN 0303-8300

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

This study provides an overview of the incidence of the communicable and non-communicable diseases in Pacific Island countries. Available health statistics confirms that children continue to die annually due to neonatal causes, diarrhoeal diseases, pneumonia and measles. The adult population in several countries reveals presence and emergence of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Among the communicable diseases is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the 15–49 years old age group, it is considered to be less than 0.1% in several countries but in Papua New Guinea (PNG), it is about 0.3%. Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, PNG and Solomon Islands reveal high prevalence of tuberculosis while PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are the three Malaria prone countries. In terms of non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in several countries with Nauru recording highest incidence followed by Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Fiji. People in several countries are in the pre-hypertension category with a high risk of developing hypertension. Several countries have serious obesity problems and in the Cook Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa and Tonga; more than 60% of population is obese, and in all countries females are more obese than males. Diabetes is prevalent in all countries and Nauru has the highest percentage of prevalence of diabetes while in Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Micronesia, approximately 8% of people aged 20 and above suffers from diabetes. Fiji, Nauru, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu reveal high incidences of cigarette smokers while the consumption of alcohol is high in Niue and in the Cook Islands.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Economics
Depositing User: Ms Neha Harakh
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2009 22:37
Last Modified: 10 Jul 2012 05:20
URI: https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/1076

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item