Health education improves both arthritis-related illness and self-rated health: An intervention study among older people in rural Bangladesh

• Published in: Public health (London) 2010-12, Vol.124 (12), p.705-712
• Main Authors: Rana, A.K.M.M, Kabir, Z.N, Lundborg, C.S, Wahlin, Å
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease - epidemiology; Acute Disease - psychology; Aged; Arthralgia - complications; Arthralgia - epidemiology; Arthralgia - psychology; Arthritis; Arthritis - epidemiology; Arthritis - psychology; Back Pain - complications; Back Pain - epidemiology; Back Pain - psychology; Bangladesh; Diagnostic Self Evaluation; Female; Health; Health Education; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; hälso- och sjukvårdsforskning; Infectious Disease; Internal Medicine; Logistic Models; Male; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Older people; Physical activity; Rural communities; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Self-rated health; Social medicine; Socialmedicin
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2010.07.005

Summary Objectives To examine changes in self-reported arthritis-related illness and self-rated health as a result of a health education intervention, and the association between self-reported arthritis-related illness and self-rated health. Study design A quasi-experimental study was conducted in eight randomly selected villages in rural Bangladesh (intervention = 4; control = 4). Methods The intervention consisted of home-based physical activities, health advice and aspects of healthcare management over 15 months followed by a 3-month latent period. Data were collected before the intervention and after the latent period. Analyses included 839 participants (≥60 years of age) who participated in both surveys. Participants in the intervention area were further categorized into two groups who self-reported compliance or non-compliance with recommended health advice. Self-rated health was assessed using a single global question. Self-reported arthritis-related illness was indicated by the presence of arthritis, back and joint pain, biting sensation, swelling and inflammation in the joints. Results Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that positive effects on episodes of arthritis-related illness [odds ratio (OR) 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–2.8] and self-rated health (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9) were more likely among the compliant group compared with the control group. Furthermore, positive self-rated health was more likely among participants reporting a positive change in their arthritis-related illness (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.2). The results also showed that literate and non-poor participants were more likely to report positive health, and participants with advancing age were less likely to report positive health. Conclusion Community-based health education is effective in reducing the burden of arthritis-related illness and in enhancing general health in old age.