Exploring Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge and Perspectives on Behavioral Risk Factors Contributing to Non-Communicable Diseases: A Qualitative Study in Bushbuckridge, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Healthcare workers have been the backbone of information regarding behavioral risk factors and non-communicable diseases that have caused morbidity and mortality globally over the past decades. The study explores the knowledge of healthcare workers about behavioral risk factors contributing to non-communicable diseases. The study utilized a qualitative, explorative, and descriptive design. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview guide, involving eight healthcare workers from Bushbuckridge. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Healthcare workers were interviewed at their convenience, such as at lunch or as per their appointment time. Using thematic analysis, the researchers were able to systematically organize and interpret the data presented in the themes. Two themes and seven subthemes emerged regarding the knowledge of healthcare workers about behavioral risk factors contributing to non-communicable diseases. These themes, identified through deductive analysis, include behavioral risk factors and health system factors. The study found that a lack of seminars or training in the management of chronic disorders has left healthcare providers in Bushbuckridge with less information about behavioral risk factors related to non-communicable diseases. However, these findings reflect the perspectives of a small sample and require further investigation through broader qualitative and quantitative research to determine their generalizability and potential systemic implications.