Abstract
BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising among US Hispanics, but few studies have examined the preventive health behaviors for these NCDs among Hispanics. This study compared the preventive health behaviors of smoke-free living, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and avoidance of heavy alcohol use in Hispanics in the United States and Hispanics living along the US-Mexico border.MethodsTwo weighted data sets with information on Hispanic populations were analyzed: 1) the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (n = 29,942) from 2009; and 2) the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (n = 1,439) recruited from the US-Mexico border between 2008–2011. To compare the preventive health behaviors of the samples, within a generalized estimating equation framework, weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted controlling for age, educational attainment, employment, language, and insurance status. Statistical tests were two-sided with a significance level set at 0.05.ResultsBoth samples reported low engagement in preventive behaviors. However, Hispanic males and females from the US-Mexico border were significantly less likely than the national sample to meet physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. Also, Hispanic males from the US-Mexico border were more likely to engage in heavy alcohol use.ConclusionThe lack of preventive health behaviors among Hispanics living along the US-Mexico border presents a dire prospect for NCD control in the region. Multipronged approaches to address multiple behaviors should be considered.
Highlights
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising among United States (US) Hispanics, but few studies have examined the preventive health behaviors for these NCDs among Hispanics
The Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC) sample had a higher proportion of females than the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) sample (CCHC: 58.3 %, BRFSS: 49.7 %, p-value < 0.0004), and a higher percentage of participants who did not graduate from high school (CCHC: 47.9 %, BRFSS: 31.2 %, p-value < 0.0001)
The lack of preventive health behaviors among Hispanics along the border is disturbing because it mirrors features found among low and middle income populations worldwide, where NCDs are escalating [3]
Summary
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising among US Hispanics, but few studies have examined the preventive health behaviors for these NCDs among Hispanics. This study compared the preventive health behaviors of smoke-free living, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and avoidance of heavy alcohol use in Hispanics in the United States and Hispanics living along the US-Mexico border. Reininger et al BMC Public Health (2015) 15:564 smoke-free living, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and avoidance of heavy alcohol use, help to prevent or alleviate the suffering and early mortality related to NCDs [4] (see Table 1). Given the documented chronic disease prevalence along the border, we expected to see fewer preventive health behaviors, including smoke-free living, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and avoidance of heavy alcohol use in Hispanics living along the border than in Hispanics nationally
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