SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN KERSA DISTRICT, JIMMA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The socioeconomic determinants of health can be understood as the social conditions in whichpeople live and work. The objective of the study was to explore the socioeconomic determinants of health in adultsaged 18 years and above with the Ethiopian context for possible policy directives and intervention.METHODS: A community based survey was conducted in Kersa District, Jimma Zone on a sample of 422 adults,who were residing in a randomly selected ten kebeles (nine rural and 1 urban). Data were collected through face-to- face interview. The outcome variable was self rated general health state which is measured in a single five pointLikert item, which is dichotomized as “poor health” and “good health” for subsequent analysis.RESULTS: Household asset index was constructed as a proxy measure for socioeconomic status a singlehousehold asset index was constructed for the whole sample using principal component analysis (PCA). Majority ofthe respondents 378 (89.6%) rated their health state as good and 44 (10.4%) rated their health state as poor. TheBivariate analysis exhibited association of statistical significance with age (P value for trend = <0.001), moderatephysical activity OR(95%CI:0.22-0.81), place of residence OR(95%CI:1.33-6.33) and alcohol consumption OR(95%CI: 0.07-0.83) but the independent predictors of poor health state were sufficient physical activity of moderateintensity OR (95%CI :0.19-0.77) ,age OR (95%CI: 1.02-1.07) and sex OR ( 95%CI: 1.12-4.79).CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic determinants of health in this study converged mainly on to negativelifestyle practice such as level of physical activity and the socio demographic characteristics sex and increasing agewhich signifies upcoming intervention strategies in the future should emphasize health problems of females and theelderly. And also equipping the community with the right information about the benefits of sufficient physicalactivity deserves special attention.