Abstract:
The rise in the prevalence of NCDs is thought to be the result of complex interaction between health, economic growth and development and is strongly associated with universal trends such as population ageing, unplanned urbanization and globalization of unhealthy lifestyles. Even with government efforts in enhancing availability of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of the breast cancers, uptake of these services has remained low and/or delayed over time. The purpose of the study was to investigate the connection between non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer and the subsequent decrease in development evoked by it. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population for this study was 32 ministries of health officials, 167 breast cancer survivors and care providers, 49 health officials in hospitals and 106 community based organizations officials. A sample population of 184 was arrived at by calculating the target population of 354 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05using the formula taken from Kothari (2004). Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The drop and pick method was preferred for questionnaire administration so as to give respondents enough time to give well thought out responses. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 21.0). Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were conducted. The findings were presented in tables.The findings show that physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol use and lifestyle are greatly prevalent. The study revealed that majority of the respondents are aware of breast cancer. The results indicated that monitoring, surveillance and research and early diagnosis and control of breast cancer through health systems strengthening are greatly effective in curbing and reducing mortality rate from breast cancer.The study concluded that the intermediate risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases are physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol use and lifestyle which were deduced to be greatly prevalent, that breast cancer greatly affects development and that there are possible ways of curbing and reducing mortality rate from the disease and that in Gede, Kilifi County. The study recommends that the government and non-governmental organization should use the social media (radio and television) as the main channel to run the campaigns on breast cancer screening as well as other campaigns on other health issues affecting the general public. Policy should also be put in place that makes it compulsory for women in informal sector to have a health cover through the national health insurance fund.
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