The determinants of self-rated health among ethnic minorities in Hungary

Background. The health status of a population is largely determined by the mutually interrelated factors of social and financial conditions, and by lifestyle, including health-related behaviour. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors influencing self-rated health among different ethnic minorities living in closed communities in the South-East Hungarian region. Methods. The cross-sectional survey was based on interviewer-administered questionnaires on socio-demographic variables, lifestyle and health status. In the study 100-120 persons were recruited from Serbian, Croatian, Romanian, German minorities and the Hungarian population. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used. Results. In the univariate analyses, poor self-rated health correlated with all the factors examined except marital status. In the multivariate logistic regression model, poor health was found to be significantly associated with age, educational level, ethnicity, body mass index and chronic diseases. Poor self-rated health was observed in the Croatians and in the Hungarian control group. Conclusion. In South-East Hungary, demographic parameters, especially being a member of a minority, and objective health status are highly important determinants of self-rated health. Several of the parameters studied in our survey indicated no effect or no special differences within the population of the region as concerns of self-rated health; certain other factors, however, proved to be special features for the studied ethnic minority, justifying the launching of target group-oriented health intervention programmes.