Chronic disease prevalence and influencing factors among rural residents in Jiangxi, China

Background: This study assessed the prevalence of chronic disease among rural residents in Jiangxi, China, analyzed influencing factors and provided scientific rationale for chronic disease prevention and control. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to get a representative sample of rural residents in three counties across five time points from 2003 to 2012. Multivariate logistic regression and x² analysis were performed to analyze the influencing factors. Results: The average prevalence of chronic disease across the five surveys was 7.9%. A declining trend in chronic disease prevalence from 9.1% in the baseline year to 6.9% in 2012 was observed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, occupation, education, marital status and employment were related to the prevalence of chronic disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic disease among rural residents in Jiangxi Province was lower than the national level, and declined over the course of the study. Strengthening health services and interventions for women, farmers, those who are divorced or widowed, the unemployed, and those with a low level of education or low income will help to improve the health status of the population.