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Socioeconomic patterning of chronic conditions and behavioral risk factors in rural South Asia: a multi-site cross-sectional study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

Our aim was to examine relationships between markers of socioeconomic status and chronic disease risks in rural South Asia to understand the etiology of chronic diseases in the region and identify high-risk populations.

Methods

We examined data from 2271 adults in Chennai, Goa and Matlab sites of the Chronic Disease Risk Factor study in South Asia. We report age–sex adjusted odds ratios for risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, fruit–vegetable use and physical activity) and common chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, overweight, depression, impaired lung and vision) by education, occupation and wealth.

Results

Respondents with greater wealth and in non-manual professions were more likely to be overweight [OR = 2.48 (95% CI 1.8,3.38)] and have diabetes [OR = 1.88 (95% CI 1.02,3.5)]. Wealth and education were associated with higher fruit and vegetable [OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.48,2.4)] consumption but lower physical activity [OR = 0.52 (95% CI 0.39,0.69)]. Non-manual workers reported lower tobacco and alcohol use, while wealthier respondents reported better vision and lung function.

Conclusions

Ongoing monitoring of inequalities in chronic disease risks is needed for planning and evaluating interventions to address the growing burden of chronic conditions.

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Acknowledgements

NB was supported by PHFI-UKC Wellcome Trust Career Development Research Fellowship (2014-2016) as part of a Wellcome Trust Capacity Strengthening Strategic Award Extension phase grant awarded to the Public Health Foundation of India and a consortium of UK universities (WT084754/Z/08/A). CM is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship. The CDRF Study was funded by the Wellcome Trust Grant awarded to South Asia Network for Chronic Diseases at the Public Health Foundation of India. The project in Goa was conducted by Goa Medical College and Sangath

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India

    Nandita Bhan & Christopher Millett

  2. School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Christopher Millett

  3. Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA

    S. V. Subramanian

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Goa Medical College and Sangath, Goa, India

    Amit Dias

  5. School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, York University, Toronto, Canada

    Dewan Alam

  6. Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, India

    Joseph Williams

  7. Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India

    Preet K. Dhillon

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  1. Nandita Bhan
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  2. Christopher Millett
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  3. S. V. Subramanian
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Correspondence to Nandita Bhan.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

The CDRF Study was funded by the Wellcome Trust Grant awarded to South Asia Network for Chronic Diseases at the Public Health Foundation of India.

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Bhan, N., Millett, C., Subramanian, S.V. et al. Socioeconomic patterning of chronic conditions and behavioral risk factors in rural South Asia: a multi-site cross-sectional study. Int J Public Health 62, 1019–1028 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1019-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1019-9

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