Sociodemographic disparity in health-related behaviours and dietary habits among public workers in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveWe aimed to estimate the distribution of health-related behaviours and dietary habits by sociodemographics among public workers in China.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA representative sample was obtained from 10 government-run institutions in Hunan province of China.ParticipantsA total of 5029 public workers were included in this study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrevalence on their sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviours and dietary habits. Socioeconomic status (SES) scores were calculated by multiplying ordinal numerical values assigned to consecutive categories of education level and annual household income. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and categorical principal component analysis were used to estimate differences in health-related behaviours and dietary habits by sociodemographics.ResultsThe distribution of health-related behaviours and dietary habits was varied by sociodemographic groups. Middle-aged groups (41–60 years) were more likely to smoke (for men, 34.5%), use alcohol (for men, 22.5%), and have short sleep duration (for men, 36.3%; for women, 39.6%). Young participants (≤30 years) were more likely to have multiple unhealthy behaviours and dietary habits. Those in low-SES have a significant higher rate of smoking (ORadj=1.46, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.85) and leisure-time physical inactivity (ORadj=1.18, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.37), but a lower rate of late sleeping (ORadj=0.69, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.83) than those in high-SES. Notably, older men (≥51 years) with low-SES preferred the ‘smoked and pickled foods and dessert’ and ‘fish and nut’ pattern. In high-SES groups, 41–50 year old people preferred the ‘traditional foods’ and ‘cereals and dairy product’ pattern. No difference in dietary patterns by sociodemographics was found among women (p<0.05).ConclusionsOur findings of the disparity distribution of health-related behaviours and dietary habits by specific gender, age and SES among Chinese public workers have important policy implications for developing targeted health interventions to facilitate health-related behaviours and dietary habits in this population.