PAHO training to field staff for the STEPS Survey in Ecuador

Quito, September 18, 2025 -The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) held a training workshop from September 8 to 10 in Quito for field staff participating in the second round of the STEPS Survey on risk factors and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Ecuador. This survey is implemented by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) in coordination with the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) and with technical and financial support from PAHO and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The STEPS survey is a key tool for NCD surveillance. One of the main sources of information that produces data for monitoring the indicators and targets of the WHO Global Monitoring Framework, which countries agreed were necessary to measure progress on noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors.

The training brought together the entire team responsible for fieldwork: 24 interviewers, eight liaisons, eight supervisors, four regional managers, and one national manager. The objective was to ensure that staff had the necessary skills to properly implement the three steps of the survey: the application of a structured questionnaire through personal interviews; physical measurements such as blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference; and biochemical measurements of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

During the sessions, individual and group practice sessions were held on the use of tablets and measuring equipment, and staff were trained in interview techniques, home identification, use of cartography, and data submission procedures. The PAHO office in Ecuador provided participants with all the necessary supplies for fieldwork, including tablets, digital blood pressure monitors, height meters, scales, biochemical analyzers, testing supplies, auxiliary forms, and official clothing.

The STEPS Ecuador 2025 Survey will generate updated information on the status of NCDs and their risk factors, allowing for comparison with the results of the first round conducted in 2018. In addition to the core topics (tobacco, alcohol, diet, hypertension, diabetes, among others), the questionnaire includes modules on mental health (depression and suicide), oral health, and access to primary care. The latter will be applied for the first time in the region and will allow for the collection of relevant data on the availability, accessibility, and quality of health services, which is important information for the Better Care for NCDs initiative.

PAHO continues to work with the countries of the Americas to prevent and address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading cause of death and disability in the region and worldwide.

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