J Korean Community Nurs.  2000 Dec;11(2):486-498.

The Middle-aged's Health Problems and Health Behavior in an Urban Area

• Yun SN
• Kim JH

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify health problems and health behaviors of the middle-aged residing in urban areas and to plan and implement health promotion programs based on their health needs. The subjects' age ranged from 30-64 years in 1.040 middle-aged residing in an area of Kangbook-ku in Seoul. The data were collected from September 1998 to February 1999 with structured questionnaire using face-to-face or telephone interviews. The data were analyzed by SPSS-PC+ and identified by chi2 test and ANOVA. The results were as follows: 1. 35.4% of the males and 27.8% of the female responded that they were healthy regarding their perceived health status. In the order of chronic illness prevalence in the case of males was hypertension, diabetes, and digestive disorders and. in the case of females, was digestive disorders, hypertension, arthritis, anemia, and diabetes. 2. Male and female's smoking rates were 7.3% and 3.6% each and marked the highest rate of 30 to 40 years: drinking behavior was 66.9% in males and 32.2% in females. 3. The younger males had the worse dietary habits and had the lowest frequency of regular exercise. The older the females were, the more their weight increased. According to the results, health promotion programs by sex are recommended, especially in the target population of 30 to 40 years. and focused on the strategies for promoting self-care and actual health practice: it is strongly suggested that health promotion programs for adolescent and school-aged children before middle aged health behavior begins.

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anemia
Arthritis
Child
Chronic Disease
Drinking Behavior
Female
Food Habits
Health Behavior*
Health Promotion
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Hypertension
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Self Care
Seoul
Smoke
Smoking
Smoke