[Health values and health-related behaviors in ethnic minority groups in Guizhou Province].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the perceived health values and its impact on health-related behaviors of the ethnic minority people in Guizhou province, with an aim to developing culturally appropriate health education and health promotion strategies.


METHODS
A self-designed questionnaire survey was undertaken in 722 Miao, Gelao, Dong and Buyi people aged 15 years or over. The questionnaire contained six items evaluating perceived health values. The health-related behaviors covered smoking, alcohol drinking, safe water drinking, blood pressure check, reading health information, and seeking medical attention for illness. Kruskal-Wallis Test and Spearman correlation analysis were used to test the relationship between health values and health-related behaviors.


RESULTS
Smoking and alcohol drinking were more prevalent in the minority men than in the minority women (P<0. 001). The health-related behaviors including smoking, alcohol drinking and reading changed with age and education levels. Those who had less health risk behaviors (except for smoking) tended to put more values on health. Each of the six health value items was associated with at least three health-related behaviors. Blood pressure check and reading were positively correlated with all of the six health values items.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to increase perceived values of health in the ethnic minority people through education so that health promotion can be effectively implemented.
Liu
Guo-qin
GQ
Department of Social Medicine, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Li
Ning-xiu
NX
Mao
Li-po
LP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult