Non-communicable diseases
Behaviours that lead to disease often emerge during childhood and adolescence.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing threat to children and adolescents. NCDs undermine children's and adolescents’ right to health, nutrition, education and play. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without addressing NCDs in children.
Health systems all over the world are increasingly burdened by the management of NCDs in their populations. NCDs make up 70% of deaths globally and 86% of premature NCD mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Over 2.1 billion children and adolescents less than 20 years of age are affected by NCDs, with the major burden of disease in this age group being congenital or acquired cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory disorders, diabetes, mental health disorders, and injury. Each year, about 1 million people under the age of 20 die from treatable NCDs, accounting for over 15.85 % of deaths in the age group.
- There are about 300,000 new cases annually of Sickle Cell Disease globally, with 2/3 of these new cases born in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to significant loss of life and strain to health systems. With the huge gaps in access to life saving interventions, about half of these children die before their 5th birthday.
- Globally, about 1.1 million children and adolescents have T1D and need insulin daily to survive; many do not have access to life-saving care and treatment.
The risk factors for NCDs are behaviors established in childhood and adolescence. Today 81% of adolescents do not get enough physical activity, 150 million use tobacco products worldwide, 12% are heavy episodic drinkers, 41 million children over 5 are overweight or obese, and over 90% of those under 15 breath toxic air every day.
Children and adolescents are often targeted by companies selling unhealthy products (e.g. tobacco, alcohol and foods high in fat, sugar and/or salt). Many children and adolescents also grow up in built environments that are not conducive to healthy behaviours (e.g. urban areas that may offer limited opportunities for physical activity, exposure to unsafe roads and high levels of air pollution).
NCD risk factors are preventable. A multi-sectoral approach to deliver interventions before, during and after pregnancy, and through childhood and adolescence, can significantly reduce their prevalence.
UNICEF’s response
UNICEF works with governments and partners to help reduce the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to strengthen health systems to identify and manage NCDs in children and young people. We strive to integrate prevention and management of childhood NCDs in our maternal, newborn and child health programmes. As a member of the United Nations Interagency Task Force on NCDs, we jointly work with other UN agencies to support governments and partners to deliver multi-sectoral interventions to address NCDs.
Our work on non-communicable diseases extends beyond the health sector. We also support NCD prevention services in areas like education – particularly through school programmes – and nutrition.
UNICEF advocates around NCD prevention and control efforts, strengthens health system capacity for managing childhood NCDs, influences national NCD policy, and empowers communities to generate demand and create public accountability.