TY  - JOUR
A1  -  Nédó Erika
A1  -  Paulik Edit
ID  - publicatio36127
AV  - public
JF  - BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
VL  - 12
TI  - Association of smoking, physical activity, and dietary habits with socioeconomic variables: a cross-sectional study in adults on both sides of the Hungarian-Romanian border
EP  - 10
IS  - 1
Y1  - 2012///
SN  - 1471-2458
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-60
N2  - ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The association between socioeconomic 
status and health-related behaviours has been clarified in 
several epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to 
reveal the socioeconomic differences in health-related 
behaviours and in nutritional status of Hungarian and Romanian 
citizens living on both sides of the border. METHODS: A cross-
sectional study based on interviewer-administered questionnaires 
was conducted on both sides of the Hungarian-Romanian border. 
The survey was completed by 1, 099 Hungarians (Hu) and 852 
Romanians (Ro) aged 18 years and over; the overall participation 
rate was 92.9%. Demographic and socioeconomic factors, health-
related behaviours (smoking, dietary habits and physical 
activity), body weight and height were recorded. All analyses 
were performed separately for Hungarians and Romanians. Simple 
descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used 
to measure the associations between socioeconomic status and 
behaviour, as well as obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of 
smoking was similar in Hungarians and Romanians (33.2% and 
36.4%). The frequency of "unhealthy diet" was 70.6% in 
Hungarians and 75.2% in Romanians. Physical inactivity was more 
prevalent in Romanians (73.2%) than in Hungarians (32.0%), while 
the prevalence of obesity was higher in Hungarians (22.0%) than 
in Romanians (16.5%). Based on the univariate logistic 
regression models the risk of smoking was higher among those 
with medium educational level (ORHu = 1.66) and poor financial 
conditions (ORHu = 3.13) in Hungarians. The risk of unhealthy 
diet was higher among the low educated (ORHu = 1.77; ORRo = 
7.91) and among those with poor financial conditions (ORHu = 
2.05; ORRo = 4.25). None of the socioeconomic factors was 
associated with leisure time physical inactivity. In the 
multivariate models obesity was associated with medium level of 
education in Hungarians, and with unhealthy diet in Romanians 
(ORRo = 2.10). Physically inactive Hungarians were more (ORHu = 
1.74), whereas inactive Romanians were less (ORRo = 0.64) likely 
to be obese than physically active people from the same country. 
CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that socioeconomic status 
is associated with health-related behaviours in a small area of 
Hungary and Romania. The results highlight the need for 
developing interventional strategies, focusing more on people in 
lower socioeconomic status, in order to reduce the existing 
inequalities in health and health-related behaviours.
ER  -