Health risk factors and occupation among Iowa workers.
BACKGROUND
Health behaviors represent major risks for premature morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to establish whether health risks varied substantially across occupational groups.


METHODS
We focused on the 2223 Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) subjects who reported, in 1999, that they were currently working.


RESULTS
Even after controlling for age and gender, we found significant associations between occupation and health risk factors. We found these associations among the different categories of health risk factors, including insurance/access, health conditions, preventive behaviors, and screening behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
The considerable differences in the prevalence of risk factors for chronic disease and injury across occupational groups in Iowa underscore the need for nationwide ongoing collection of occupational status in the BRFSS. These national data on the distribution of risk factors across occupations will support development of more targeted prevention interventions.
Park
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Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000, USA.
Sprince
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Jensen
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Whitten
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Zwerling
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality