Abstract
Introduction The objective of the paper is to analyze and to assess prevalence of the major behavioral risk factors among adult population (25-64 years of age) in the rural and urban areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH).Methods Data were taken from cross-sectional population survey on the health status population in the FBIH. To ensure a sample representative for the adult population in the FBIH it was applied the two-stage stratified systematic sample. The survey covered a total of 2735 adult population aged 25-64 years, of which 1087 in the urban areas and 1648 in rural areas.Results. The prevalence of smoking among men in rural areas is significantly higher than among men in urban areas (69% vs. 55%), while the prevalence of smoking among women is higher in urban than in rural areas (45% vs. 31%). There is no statistically significant difference in prevalence of obesity and physical activity according to the age groups among men and women in the urban and rural areas. The frequency of changes in behavior related to acquiring healthy living habits in the rural areas is statistically significant among men and women, while in the urban areas there is no statistical significance among the sexes.Conclusions. The results indicate that there are no significant differences in prevalence of factor risks in urban and rural areas. Prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles is high, and the results should be used to improve standard planning of health promotion-prevention programs.
Highlights
The objective of the paper is to analyze and to assess prevalence of the major behavioral risk factors among adult population (25-64 years of age) in the rural and urban areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH)
Prevalence of smokers among men in rural areas is significantly higher than among men in urban areas (69% vs. 55%), while the prevalence of smoking among women is significantly higher in urban than in rural areas (45% vs. 31%)
There is no statistically significant difference in prevalence of smoking according to the age groups among respondents of both sexes in the urban areas (λ2=3.2 df=2 p=0.358) (Table 1)
Summary
The objective of the paper is to analyze and to assess prevalence of the major behavioral risk factors among adult population (25-64 years of age) in the rural and urban areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH). Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity with consequent obesity are proven major risk factors for NCDs, especially diseases of the cardiovascular system (CVDs), as well as for subsequent events; hypertension, glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia. These risk factors are indicators of major preventable health problems and their regular monitoring within the population makes a good basis for setting and implementing evidence-based preventive and promotional programs [1,2]. In the last decades the health care systems of countries with clear and strong recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) implement activities to reduce prevalence of these risk factors that are proven to be preventable. Prevalence of the risk factors is assessed from periodic cross-sectional population surveys
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
