Perspectives for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Tanzania: Is Knowledge Translated into Practice?

Background: In Tanzania, where over a third of the society is impoverished, the burden of NCDs which account for about two-fifths of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and one-third of premature deaths has doubled in the past two decades. However, notwithstanding a wider realization of the escalating burden of NCDs across Tanzania, the link between NCD awareness and lifestyle practices at the population level is not well characterized. We aimed to establish the gap between NCD knowledge and healthy behaviors.