Determinants of poor self-rated health among adults in Mozambique

Boaventura Cau, Eduardo Mondlane University
Carlos Arnaldo, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane
Joana Falcão, Centro de Pesquisa em População e Saúde (CEPSA)

Self-rated health is a measure expressing the general condition of health of individuals. Self-rated health studies are common in developed countries and in some developing regions. Despite increasing proportion of adult and older population in sub-Saharan Africa and poor population health indicators, there is a dearth of studies on self-rated health in the region. Using a population survey, we employ logistic regression to examine factors associated with poor self-rated health among individuals aged 40 years or more in Maputo metropolitan area in Mozambique. We find that about 52% of respondents aged 40 years or more believe that their health status is poor. Preliminary results show that gender, marital status, occupation and the practice of physical activity as well as perception of health status a year before the survey are important factors.