Non-communicable diseases in Mozambique: risk factors, burden, response and outcomes to date

Mozambique is located on the East Coast of Africa bordering South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania. Based on the 2007 census projections for 2011 the total population is estimated to be 23 million inhabitants [1]. The population composition of Mozambique is typical of a Low Income Country in sub-Saharan Africa with 45.3% of the population under the age of 15, 50.1% aged between 15–59 and 4.7% above the age of 60 [1]. Life expectancy (2011 estimate) is 52.4 years overall and 50.4 and 54.5 for men and women respectively [1].Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world being ranked 184 out of 187 on the Human Development Index [2]. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was International US$ 1,000 and GDP (real growth) in 2010 was 7%. In parallel to this economic development the rate of urbanization was estimated to be 4% [3] with 31% of the total population living in urban areas in 2011 [1]. In comparison to other countries in Southern Africa Mozambique is currently one of the least urbanized countries [4,5]. However, by 2025 it is estimated that it will be the fourth most urbanized [4,5].Mozambique is highly dependent on donor aid receiving US$ 87 per capita in net official development assistance and official aid [6]. An estimated 25 donors cover about 70% of Mozambique’s health budget through basket funding, with some of these donors providing direct financial assistance to the Ministry of Health and others to specific areas of the country or disease areas [7].The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in adults aged between 15–49 years of age continues to increase at a national level and is approximately 16.1% [8]. The top 5 causes of mortality are Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Diarrhoeal diseases, Lower Respiratory Infections and Perinatal Conditions representing 57% of total deaths [9]. Despite the main causes of mortality being communicable diseases a study in 1994 showed that of a total of 8,114 deaths classified in the autopsy register in Maputo city 1,834 (22.6