Objectives
  This study aimed at describing primary healthcare (PHC) providers’ opinions and attitudes about non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention in Sri Lanka and to suggest methods to increase their competence in preventing NCDs.
Methods
  Using purposive sampling, in-depth interviews were conducted among 25 PHC providers: 7 public health nursing sisters (PHNSs), 7 public health inspectors (PHIs), and 11 public health midwives (PHMs) in the western province of Sri Lanka. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the data were thematically coded.
Results
  Three major areas regarding PHC providers’ perceptions of NCD prevention and control were identified: insufficient knowledge and training regarding NCD prevention, integrating NCD prevention into MCH activities, and insufficient resources and facilities for NCD prevention. All respondents expressed interest in implementing NCD prevention measures as part of their daily routine. However, insufficient knowledge of NCDs prevented them from playing an active role in NCD prevention and control. PHMs described that they could integrate health education about NCD prevention with their existing duties if they were knowledgeable on strategies to handle it in the field. They recognized that unmet PHNS and PHM quotas caused to hinder their delivery of appropriate services and that they could prevent NCD more effectively by delivering better services if they were provided basic data on NCD of the areas they were in charge of.
Conclusion
  The PHC providers recognized that they had insufficient knowledge and numbers of PHC providers to deliver services to control and prevent NCDs in the communities. Our findings suggest that it is important to provide sufficient training to PHC providers. In addition, there is a need to increase the numbers of PHC providers and improve facilities of medical officer of health (MOH) office. Moreover, the accessibility of basic NCD data from every administrative division is needed to achieve effective practices regarding NCD prevention and control in Sri Lanka.