Author:

• Felipe Fossati Reichert - Reichert, F. F. - Pelotas, RS - Escola Superior de Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Pelotas - <ffreichert@gmail.com>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0951-9875

Co-author(s):

• Mathias Roberto Loch - Loch, M. R. - Universidade Estadual de Londrina - <mathiasuel@hotmail.com>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2680-4686
• Marcelo Fernandes Capilheira - Capilheira, M.F. - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas - <capilheira@brturbo.com.br>

Thematic Area:

Epidemiologia

Abstract:

Purpose: To verify the prevalence of self-reported health as regular/bad and the factors associated to this outcome.
Methods: A cross-sectional, population based study was carried out in Pelotas. The sample size comprised 820 adolescents, 2715 adults and 385 elderly. Self-reported health status was investigated through the question: “How do you rate your health?” Data on demographics, socioeconomic, behavioral, and health-related characteristics of individuals were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated through the Poisson regression.
Results: Prevalence of reporting health status as regular or bad was 12.1%, 22.3% and 49.4% in adolescents, adults and elderly, respectively. Adolescents with lower economic status and schooling had higher prevalence of regular/bad self-reported health. Among adults and elderly, the women, those older, with lower economic status and who had some morbidity presented higher proportion of regular/bad self-reported health status.
Conclusion: Individuals perceive health not only as the absence of a disease, but also as a construct related to social, demographic, and to a less extend, behavioral aspects. Health approaches must recognize this fact and overcome the simplistic view where health is dichotomized in sick and not sick individuals.

Keywords:

self-reported health statusprevalenceassociated factorsrisk factorsepidemiology

Content:

Access Issue in Scielo

Other languages: