Morbidity and associated factors in rural and urban populations of South Lebanon: a cross-sectional community-based study of self-reported health in 2000.
OBJECTIVE
To assess self-reported morbidity and its determining factors in South Lebanon, with an emphasis on the influence of the habitat location (urban vs. rural) and gender.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey in 2000 among 524 South Lebanon residents >/=14 years sampled from a random sample of households using a multi-level cluster sampling technique. Data on self-reported morbidity, lifestyle and socioeconomic status were collected through interviews, using a standardized questionnaire. To evaluate deprivation, a new index was created; the modified 'Living Conditions Index'. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to test the effect of habitat and gender on self-reported morbidity.


RESULTS
People in one-fifth of the households lived in precarious conditions. Illiteracy was significantly higher in rural than urban settings. Urban residents reported obesity, varicose veins, anxiety/depression and visual disorders more often. Illiteracy, headaches, lumbar pain, varicose veins and anxiety/depression were more frequently reported by women, whereas ulcers, hearing disorders, cardio-vascular diseases and their risk factors were more frequently reported by men. Precarious living conditions were associated with headaches, lumbar pains and insomnia. Individuals covered by a health insurance sought care more often than the uninsured.


CONCLUSIONS
Habitat location had only a minor influence on self-reported morbidity; women perceived their health as poorer than men and a number of disease conditions were influenced by deprivation. Our study confirms that the epidemiological transition phenomenon had occurred in South Lebanon in 2000. Our community-based data can serve as a baseline for monitoring changes in health in South Lebanon in the future and especially those because of the war that emerged in July 2006.
Sabbah
Ibtissam
I
PRISMAL Inserm Regional Research Network in Public Health, Université de Franche-Comté, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Besançon, France.
Vuitton
Dominique-Angèle
DA
Droubi
Nabil
N
Sabbah
Sanaa
S
Mercier
Mariette
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011634:Public Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors