Abstract
Aim: The study was conducted aiming at assessing the prevalence of several selected health behaviours and on identifying population groups at very high risk for them in the adult population. The present study focused on unhealthy nutrition related to obesity and diabetes (UNROD) and insufficient physical activity (IPA). High-quality basis for working out strategies, guidelines and plans for public health action in Slovenia was planned to be prepared. Subjects and methods: The data originate from the national survey carried out in 2001 on health behaviour of 15,379 adults aged 25–64 based on Countrywide Integrated Non-communicable Diseases Intervention (CINDI) Health Monitor (CHM) methodology. The overall response rate of the mailed questionnaire was 64%, with 9,043 questionnaires being eligible for analysis. Binary multiple logistic regression was used to determine the impact of gender, age, education, employment, self-assessed social class, type of residence community and geographical region on the occurrence of UNROD and IPA. Results: The highest odds for UNROD were registered in men [odds ratio (OR)men vs. women=1.35, p<0.001], aged 25–29 (OR25–29 vs. 60–64=2.72, p<0.001), participants with primary education level (ORprimary vs. university education=2.20, p<0.001), heavy workers in rural economy (ORheavy work in rural economy vs. pensioner=1.85, p<0.001), participants self-classified in labour social class (ORlabour vs. upper=1.89, p=0.026); residents of rural communities (ORrural vs. urban residence community=1.26, p<0.001), and participants from the eastern region of Slovenia (OReastern vs. central=1.43, p<0.001). The highest odds for IPA were registered in women (ORwomen vs. men=1.57, p<0.001), aged 25–29 (OR25–29 vs. 50–59=1.65, p<0.001), participants with the lowest education level (OR uncompleted primary education vs. secondary=1.47, p<0.001), participants self-classified in the lowest social class (OR lower vs. upper=2.18, p=0.040); residents of urban communities (ORurban vs. rural residence community=1.70, p<0.001), and participants from the central region of Slovenia (ORcentral vs. eastern=1.32, p<0.001). Conclusions: Groups at highest risk for UNROD and IPA were successfully identified with the above-described methodology and presented to decision makers as evidence for public health policy. CHM surveys proved to be a good tool in developing effective healthy nutrition and physical activity intervention programmes.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Verena Koch, Maruša Pavcic and Mojca Gabrijelcic Blenkus in the field of nutrition, and Rado Pišot in the field of PA, for their contributions to the analysis of the data by helping defining the complex indicators. Research was supported financially by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and by the Ministry of Health of Slovenia (Applied Research Project L3-3128-0381).
Conflict of interest: none.
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Zaletel-Kragelj, L., Fras, Z. & Zakotnik, J.M. Results of CINDI Health Monitor surveys in Slovenia as a tool for development of effective healthy nutrition and physical activity intervention programmes. J Public Health 14, 110–118 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-005-0014-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-005-0014-4