Abstract

GOMEZ DE BRITEZ, E  and  SAMUDIO, M. Healthy beliefs and behaviors related to chronic noncommunicable diseases in participants of the AsuRiesgo Program of the Social Security Institute. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2014, vol.12, n.2, pp.43-58. ISSN 1812-9528.

The beliefs are the primary determinations of the behavior. The objective of the study is to determine the beliefs and health behaviors related to chronic non-communicable diseases in people attending the "AsuRiesgo" Program at the Central Hospital of the Social Security Institute. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with analytical component. One hundred ninety five voluntary people were interviewed anonymously, of whom 51 (26.2%) were male and 144 (73.8 %) women, with an age range between 18 and 77 years. The questionnaire was based on the Health Belief Model of Rosenstock and Likert scale, including 68 items. The results allowed the identification of favorable beliefs in relation to severity in 82.6% and negative effects related to the fear of carrying a burden for life, affecting the own and family work life, requiring additional costs and changes in life style. A perception of vulnerability was identified in 86.2%, even in the absence of risk behaviors, the benefits of healthy practices in 92.80% while no barriers were identified in the treatment and prevention in 75.4%, especially in what is related to medical consultations. The results of the additional questions about healthy behaviors showed that they are very variable and there is some consciousness about the importance of the life style, in the interpersonal relationship as in the alimentation. The relations between beliefs and practices are complex and very weak and therefore more studies are needed to clearly establish the dynamics operating among them.

Keywords : Beliefs in health; Healthy behavior Non-communicable diseases.

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