Fruit and vegetable consumption, leisure-time physical activity and alcohol abuse in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, according to the Health Vulnerability Index

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption, practice of leisure time physical activity and excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages for small areas of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Methods: Ecological study conducted with data from the telephone survey of Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases. The prevalence of risk and protection factors from 2006 to 2013 were estimated and the 95% confidence intervals calculated. The small areas corresponded to the municipality division into four strata of health risk classification given by the Health Vulnerability Index 2012. Results: The average prevalences for the period were: about 42% of regular intake of fruit and vegetable, 34.7% of leisure time activity and 20.4% of excessive drinking. The prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption was higher in low-risk areas (58.5%; 95% CI: 56.8 - 60.2) and lower in very high-risk areas (32.3%; 95% CI: 27, 7 - 36.9). The practice of leisure time activity was higher in low-risk areas (40.8%; 95% CI: 38.9 - 42.8) and lower in very high risk (25.2%; 95% CI: 20.6 - 29.9). Excessive drinking was higher in low-risk areas (22.9%; 95% CI: 21.7 - 24.2) compared to very high-risk areas (14.3%; 95% CI: 11.4 - 17.3). Conclusions: It was identified a gradient in the distribution of risk and protection factors for noncommunicable diseases in Belo Horizonte according to the risk classification. This information can support programs aimed at reducing health inequalities, especially in the most vulnerable areas.