Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the main health problems in Paraguay and constitute an important challenge for health systems due not only to the high burden of disease they produce, but also to the difficulty of measuring them.

Two national surveys on NCDs and risk factors —the WHO’s STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) —were carried out in 2011/2012 and 2022. Theresults have helped inform the development of plans and policies aimed at thecontrol of NCDs in Paraguay. Although both surveys show changes in the behavior ofdifferent NCD risk factors, such as the decrease in tobacco consumption or the increase in alcoholconsumption, there was a need to conduct deeper analysis to identify patternsof inequality.  

The Data Impact Program supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) toanalyze the STEPS data with the goal of better understanding inequalities. Todo this, the data were stratified by age, sex, geographic location, andindigenous populations (applicable to STEPS 2011/2012 only). In 2011/12, theindigenous population had higher tobacco consumption and lower consumption offruits and vegetables compared to the non-indigenous population. Men had higherlevels of alcohol consumption than women in the population overall, but the gapwas more pronounced in the indigenous population, although alcohol consumptionwas lower in the indigenous population. Alcohol consumption was also higher inurban areas in both 2011/12 and 2022. The findings highlighted the need toimplement integral, intersectoral interventions that incorporate the cultural,social and territorial particularities of indigenous communities.

TheNCD Surveillance Directorate of the MoH will present these results in variousscientific spaces through an interdisciplinary approach, integrating socialsciences, public health, anthropology and sociology with the aim ofinforming better targeted, more effective public health policies that are more mindful of cultural diversity.