Factors considered important for health maintenance by the population

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 961 - 971
• Main Authors: Siqueira, F V, Nahas, M V, Facchini, LA, da Silveira, DS, Piccini, R X, Toimasi, E, Thume, E, Reichert, F F, Hallal, PRC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01-12-2009
• ISSN: 0034-8910

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors that adults and elderly individuals regard as the most important for health maintenance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study performed with 4,060 adults and 4,003 elderly individuals in areas covered by 240 primary health units in the Brazilian Southern and Northeastern regions, in 2005. A card with pictures and sentences about seven factors associated with the risk of non-communicable diseases and health problems was shown to individuals so they should point out the most relevant factor for health. These factors were as follows: to maintain a healthy diet, to exercise regularly, to avoid excessive drinking, to have regular medical check-ups, not to smoke, to maintain the ideal weight, and to control or avoid stress. Adjusted analysis was carried out by Poisson regression, with calculations of adjusted prevalence ratios, respective 95% confidence intervals and significance values, using Wald tests for heterogeneity and linear trend. RESULTS: Factors most frequently indicated by adults were the following: to maintain a healthy diet (33.8%), to exercise regularly (21.4%) and not to smoke (13.9%). Among the elderly, factors most frequently reported were: to maintain a healthy diet (36.7%), not to smoke (17.7%) and to have regular medical check-ups (14.2%). Differences among factors mentioned were observed, according to geographical region, and demographic, socioeconomic and health variables. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of adults and elderly individuals of both regions recognize and indicate the need to maintain a healthy diet and not to smoke as the most important health maintenance measures. Health education strategies should consider these characteristics to promote specific measures to be adopted for each population segment.Original Abstract: OBJETIVO: Analisar os fatores que adultos e idosos consideram como mais importantes para manutencao da saude. METODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com 4.060 adultos e 4.003 idosos residentes em areas de abrangencia de 240 unidades basicas de saude das regioes Sul e Nordeste, em 2005. Um cartao com figuras e frases referentes a sete fatores relacionados com o risco de doencas e agravos nao transmissiveis era mostrado aos individuos para que indicassem o fator mais relevante para a saude. Os fatores eram: manter uma alimentacao sauddvel, fazer exercicio fisico regularmente, nao tomar bebidas alcoo1icas em excesso, realizar consultas medicas regularmente, nao fumar, manter o peso ideal e controlar ou evitar o estresse. As analises foram ajustadas por regressao de Poisson com calculo de razoes de prevalencia ajustadas, intervalos com 95% de confianca, e valores de significaancia usando os Testes de Wald para heterogeneidade e tendencia linear. RESULTADOS: Os fatores mais frequeentemente indicados pelos adultos foram: alimentacao saudavel (33,8%), realizar exercicio fisico (21,4%) e nao fumar (13,9%). Entre os idosos, os fatores mais relatados foram: alimentacao saudavel (36,7%), nao fumar (17,7%) e consultar o medico regularmente (14,2%). Foram observadas diferencas entre os fatores citados conforme a regiao geografica, variaveis demograficas, socioecondmicas e de saude. CONCLUSOES: Amaioria de adultos e idosos, de ambas regioes, reconhece e indica a necessidade de manter uma alimentacao saudavel e de nao fumar como medidas mais importantes para manutencao da saude. Estrategias de educacao em saude devem considerar essas caracteristicas dos individuos para estimular medidas especificas a serem adotadas para cada segmento populacional.