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| BOOK REVIEW |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 61
| Issue : 2 | Page : 150 |
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Textbook of chronic noncommunicable diseases: The health challenge of the 21st century
Sanjay Zodpey
Vice President, Public Health Foundation of India; Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, New Delhi; Chief Editor, Indian Journal of Public Health, India
| Date of Web Publication | 2-Jun-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Sanjay Zodpey
Vice President, Public Health Foundation of India; Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, New Delhi; Chief Editor, Indian Journal of Public Health
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_114_17
How to cite this article:
Zodpey S. Textbook of chronic noncommunicable diseases: The health challenge of the 21st century. Indian J Public Health 2017;61:150 |
How to cite this URL:
Zodpey S. Textbook of chronic noncommunicable diseases: The health challenge of the 21st century. Indian J Public Health [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 Mar 25];61:150. Available from: https://www.ijph.in/text.asp?2017/61/2/150/207400 |
Edition: 1st Edition
Year: 2016
ISBN: 978-93-5250-043-7
Editors: Jai Prakash Narayan, Rajesh Kumar
Publishers: Jaypee
Pages: 274
The “Textbook of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases: The Health Challenge of the 21st Century” by Jai Prakash Narain and Rajesh Kumar is a fresh look at an urgent and ever-growing problem of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs have presented a formidable challenge to health systems, stretching health systems to their limits. Their increasing burden is more acutely felt in countries such as India. Through this well-compiled book, the editors have presented a compelling case for meaningful action on NCDs.
Across 18 chapters, 37 authors have attempted to comprehensively cover the burden, determinants, priorities for research and action, and the expected response from the systems perspective. The book can be considered as organized into three broad domains: Background on burden and determinants; chapters on specific NCDs; response to the NCDs. Of particular interest is the emphasis of the different authors on a public health-centric approach that draws on the lessons from various countries and emphasizing the role of various disciplines in the control of NCDs. The editors have tapped an interdisciplinary panel of experts as chapter authors. The outline of the chapters is well-thought and presents a coherent picture to the reader. Each chapter provides a succinct introduction to the issue at hand, and readers can choose to read the book chapters in any sequence as per their interest. Each chapter is accompanied by its own set of references which will help readers to deep-dive into the topic.
An eminent team of experts covers important NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and mental illness. The book also includes a dedicated chapter to childhood obesity and its determinants. The book has also devoted space to important issues that are unfortunately relegated to the fringes such as health promotion, rational use of medications in NCDs and applying results from the communicable disease control programs for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to NCD control.
Individual chapters are richly supported by flowcharts and figures to highlight important issues. The text is easy to read and replete with examples from the literature to support the assertions. Like most well-written books, this book also has a good paper and print quality that make the reading experience easy.
Of particular interest to young researchers, the chapter on addressing social determinants and risk factors to prevent NCDs provides a holistic conception linking human health with both social and biological causes. Our fast changing lives are linked to the environment that we live in. They are also influenced by globalization and urbanization. The control strategies for such risk factors lie outside the conventional health sector. The increasing attention to mental illnesses is also adequately reflected in this book. The chapter on rational use of medicines in diabetes and hypertension addresses a necessary gap in current clinical prescription practice. This is an area that will continue to see many developments in the future. The chapters on health promotion and education; and the chapter on intersectoral collaboration are intimately linked with the health system response chapter. The health system building blocks have been used as a structure to suggest action for the future, which makes the reading and understanding easy for readers.
This book will be of immense interest to public health practitioners, the student community and researchers as a one-stop guide to appraise them of NCD prevention and control. The editors will have to take the lead in compiling updated information in subsequent editions of this masterpiece.
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