Healthy behavior patterns and levels of schooling in Brazil: time trend from 2008 to 2013

Abstract

This study analyzed data from the telephone-based Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (VIGITEL) to assess the prevalence of clusters of healthy behavior patterns (non-smoker, non-alcohol-drinker, regular leisure-time physical activity and recommended consumption of fruit and vegetables) and the temporal trend between 2008 and 2013. Additionally, we evaluated whether the association between level of schooling and clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns decreased in this same period. Prevalence ratios were obtained using Poisson regression. We found that between 2008 and 2013, the clustering prevalence of three or more healthy behavior patterns increased from 20% to 25% in men, and from 26% to 32% in women, suggesting an increase in the prevalence of healthy behavior patterns in Brazil. This increase was found at all levels of schooling. However, the association between levels of schooling and the prevalence of clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns remained constant during the period. Thus, the results suggest that educational disparities in clustering of three or more healthy behavior patterns did not change over time, despite the social improvements observed in the country in recent years.