Journal of Behavioral Health and Psychology. 2012;
2(1):(54-344)
Chronic diseases, self-rated health status, health care utilization and health insurance status of males in a caribbean nation
Paul A. Bourne
Abstract
Previous research which has examined men’s health have not coalesced in a single study
chronic illness, self-rated health status, health care seeking behaviour, health insurance
coverage and income function. The current study seeks to evaluate the general health status of
males and association between chronic illness and particular socioeconomic factors, and model
socioeconomic and other determinants of (1) chronic diseases; (2) self-rated health status; (3)
health care utilization; (4) health insurance coverage status and (3) income. A total of 3,303
males were extracted from the 2007 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC). The JSLC
is an annual cross-sectional probability sample survey which began in 1988. It is a
modification of the World Bank’s Living Standard Household Survey. Stepwise logistic and
multiple regressions were utilize to establish socioeconomic and other factors which are
associated with the particular dependent variable. The prevalence of illness was 12.1%
(chronic illness 33%; hypertension, 17.0%; diabetes mellitus, 9.1%). Almost 62% of those
with chronic illness visited a health care practitioner in the last 4-weeks; and 72% were 60+
years. The mean age of male who had chronic illness was 66.2 years (SD = 14.2) compared to
31.0 years (27.9) for those with acute conditions. More males in the upper income strata had
chronic illness (47.8%) compared to those in the lower socioeconomic strata (34.5%). Two
variables emerged as significantly associated with chronic illness (age – OR = 1.03, 95% CI =
1.01 – 1.05; married respondents – OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.58 – 6.99). The findings provide
valuable information that are critical to the understanding of male’s health and how these can
be used to guide policy formulation and future research on men’s health.
