The behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among adults in Hue city in 2017

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 adults aged 18 to 69 years in Hue city in 2017 to determine the prevalence of four behavioral risk factors for NCDs: tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, low fruit and vegetable consumption and physical inactivity. The World Health Organization STEPwise approach for Surveillance (STEPS) was modifed and used for this study. The results showed that the overall prevalence of smoking was 28.3% (men 56.6%, women 4.9%), harmful alcohol use was 14.0% (men 23.9%, women 5.8%), lack of fruit and vegetable consumption was 89.0% (men 92.3%, women 86.3%) and physical inactivity was 34.0% (men 28.7%, women 38.4%). All risk factors were associated with sex (p<0.05). In general, 96.0% of adults are suffering from one or more risk, in which the rate of one or two risks is highest, accounting for 79.5%. Health education and other interventions to reduce risk factors for NCDs among high-risk groups are suggested.