Perceived Health Status and its Correlates among Middle-Aged Laotians

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of perceived health status among Laotian aged 40 to 59. A total of 922 men or women in their 40’s or 50’s living in Vientiane Capital and Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic were included in the study. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the data. Perceived health status was negatively correlated with chance health locus of control and physical symptom frequency and positively correlated with doctors health locus of control. Age, drinking, difficulty in health utilization, physical activity, physical symptom frequency, and doctors health locus of control explained 23.5% of the variance in perceived health. To prevent the non-communicable disease, action should be taken not only at the individual level but also at the healthcare system level. In the health care fields, the targeted intervention based on the findings of this study should be devised.