Non-communicable diseases and preventive health behaviors: a comparison of Hispanics nationally and those living along the US-Mexico border

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Jing Wang¹  Alycia Boutte²  Belinda M. Reininger³  Joseph B. McCormick³  Susan P. Fisher-Hoch³  Kristina Vatcheva³ 

[1] University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing, 6901 Bertner, 77030, Houston, TX, USA;University of Texas Health Science Center – School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus, 1616 Guadalupe, Suite 6.300, 78701, Austin, TX, USA;University of Texas Health Science Center – School of Public Health, Brownsville Regional Campus, One West University Blvd, RAHC, 78520, Brownsville, TX, USA;

关键词: Hispanics;    Non-communicable diseases;    Preventive health behaviors;    US-Mexico border;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-1850-y

 received in 2014-10-08, accepted in 2015-05-19,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising among US Hispanics, but few studies have examined the preventive health behaviors for these NCDs among Hispanics. This study compared the preventive health behaviors of smoke-free living, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and avoidance of heavy alcohol use in Hispanics in the United States and Hispanics living along the US-Mexico border.MethodsTwo weighted data sets with information on Hispanic populations were analyzed: 1) the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (n = 29,942) from 2009; and 2) the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (n = 1,439) recruited from the US-Mexico border between 2008–2011. To compare the preventive health behaviors of the samples, within a generalized estimating equation framework, weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted controlling for age, educational attainment, employment, language, and insurance status. Statistical tests were two-sided with a significance level set at 0.05.ResultsBoth samples reported low engagement in preventive behaviors. However, Hispanic males and females from the US-Mexico border were significantly less likely than the national sample to meet physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. Also, Hispanic males from the US-Mexico border were more likely to engage in heavy alcohol use.ConclusionThe lack of preventive health behaviors among Hispanics living along the US-Mexico border presents a dire prospect for NCD control in the region. Multipronged approaches to address multiple behaviors should be considered.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Reininger et al. 2015