BURDEN OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN IN MOROCCO

Noncommunicable diseases remain important public health problems worldwide, accounting for significant mortality and morbidity. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. According to WHO (2018), Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, accounting for 71% of deaths worldwide. It predicts that the rapid growth of NCDs will impede poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries, particularly due to rising out-of-pocket health expenditures.In Morocco, the situation is also problematic. The epidemiological and demographic transition is reflected in an increase in the burden of disease and mortality of NCDs in children 0- 18 years, particularly cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and chronic renal failure. At the level of the Marrakech-Safi Region, the total number of diabetic children reached 1519 cases in 2019 of which 162 new cases and 1357 old cases, with a predominance (55%) at the level of the city of Marrakech. For children with hypertension, they represent 749 cases in 2019 including 25 new cases and 724 old cases. As for respiratory infections, the number of cases of acute viral bronchiolitis declared at the level of the region during the autumn-winter period 2019-2020 has reached 8404 cases. Finally, for children suffering from chronic renal failure a total number of 35 children are currently under care at the level of public hemodialysis centers, including 21 children hemodialysis, 12 under peritoneal dialysis and 02 kidney transplanted. The objective of this article is to describe the burden of morbidity and mortality related to non-communicable diseases in the Marrakech-Safi region.