title: Influence of culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development on rural elderly health-related quality of life in Guangxi, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess ethnic differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among the rural elderly, and to examine the influence of ethnic culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development on HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6,511 rural elderly aged 60 years and older from 5,541 households in 116 villages across eight ethnic groups in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region were selected and assessed for HRQoL. The EQ-5D index values were calculated based on the Chinese Time Trade-Off values set. The EQ-5D descriptive system scores, visual analogue scale scores, and index values were described by ethnic group. The EQ-5D index was modeled against ethnic culture, residential segregation and socioeconomic development using villages as random effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (IQR) of HRQoL among all the ethnic groups was 0.88 (0.80, 0.96). Pain/discomfort was the most prevalent problem, followed by anxiety/depression. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, a significant difference in HRQoL among ethnic groups persisted, but this was not true for residential segregation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social welfare and health policies designed to improve the health of the rural elderly should focus more on older, female, less-educated, Yao minority individuals as well as lower-income households.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Health Management Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Management, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wuxiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Health Management Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Management, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, People's Republic of China. gxlzzq@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhaoquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Health Management Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Management, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Health Management Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Management, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhenyou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Health Management Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Management, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla, 90110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Virasakdi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chongsuvivatwong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ethnic culture; Guangxi; HRQoL; Residential segregation; Rural elderly