Self-rated health and associated factors, Brazil, 2006.
OBJECTIVE
To assess prevalence of poor self-rated health and associated factors.


METHODS
Data from 54,213 individuals aged > or = 18 years, collected by the Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL--Telephone-based Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases), in Brazilian state capitals and Federal District, in 2006, were analyzed. One resident of each household, with at least one fixed telephone line, was randomly selected from probability samples, subsequently answering the questionnaire. Independent variables analyzed were of a demographic, behavioral and self-reported morbidity nature. Prevalences and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios of poor self-rated health were estimated using Poisson regression.


RESULTS
Poor self-rated health was more frequent in women, older individuals and those with lower level of education, without an occupation and living in state capitals of the Northern and Northeastern regions; among men prevalence of poor self-rated health was higher in the Southeastern region than in the Southern region. Smoking > or = 20 cigarettes/day, lack of regular physical activity in leisure time and low weight or obesity were associated with poor self-rated health in both sexes; pre-obesity and frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables were significant in women, while not watching television was significant in men. Prevalence of poor self-rated health increased with the growth in the number of self-reported morbidities. Having four or five morbidities resulted in PR=11.4 in men and PR=6.9 in women, compared to those who did not have morbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional, sex and level of education inequalities were observed in the prevalence of poor self-rated health. In addition, its association with unhealthy behavior and comorbidities emphasize the need for strategies to promote healthy habits and those to control chronic diseases.
Barros
Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
MB
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil. marilisa@unicamp.br
Zanchetta
Luane Margarete
LM
Moura
Erly Catarina de
EC
Malta
Deborah Carvalho
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult