Co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases among 40-year and above aged community members in three regions of Myanmar

Background: Risky behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables are known contributing factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which account for 74% of global mortality. Such behavioural risk factors co-occur frequently resulting in synergistic action for developing NCD related morbidity and mortality. This study aims to assess the existence of multiple risk behaviours and determine the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with co-occurrence of behavioural risks among Myanmar adult population.

Method: Data were collected, in the context of the SUNI-SEA project (Scaling Up NCD interventions in Southeast Asia), from 660 community members aged 40 years and above of both sexes, residing in selected urban and rural areas from Ayeyawaddy, Yangon and Mandalay regions of Myanmar. The co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors was presented as percentage with 95% CI and its determinants were identified by multinomial logistic regression.

Results: The co-occurrence of two risk behaviours and three or four risk behaviours were found in 40% (95% CI: 36.2%, 43.9%) and 10.8% (95% CI: 8.5%, 13.4%) respectively. Urban residents, men, participants without formal schooling and unemployed persons were more likely to exhibit co-occurrence of two risk behaviors and three or four risk behaviours.

Conclusion: The current study shows high prevalence of co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors among Myanmar adults in the study area. NCD prevention and control programs emphasizing management of behavioural risks should be intensively promoted, particularly directed towards multiple behavioural risk factors, and not focused on individual factors only.