Chronic noncommunicable diseases and their associated factors in community health workers

Abstract

To analyze the epidemiological profile of chronic noncommunicable diseases among community health workers and associated factors. Cross-sectional study of community health workers in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected through a questionnaire designed to characterize demographic and socioeconomic profile, employment profile, self-reported presence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, and lifestyle habits. The variables were compared between participants with and those without chronic noncommunicable diseases, with Pearsons chi-square test used to define statistically significant differences between them. 674 community health workers participated in the study, 43.32% of whom self-reported the presence of at least one chronic noncommunicable disease; chronic respiratory diseases and hypertension were the most prevalent, especially in the age group > 34 years, those with > 10 years' experience as community health workers, overweight or obese participants, sedentary participants, and those employed as a civil servant or service provider. Our results show that community health workers have a prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases and risk factors thereof similar to that found in the general Brazilian population.