Self-care Behaviors and Lipid Profiles among an Ethnic Minority Adult Population in Thai Rural Communities

Health perceptions and increased self-care behaviors can effectively prevent and control many diseases and improve one’s health. This study aimed to investigate the association of self-care behaviors with lipid profiles and creatinine among an ethnic minority adult population in Thai rural communities.

A cross-sectional study was performed from January to April 2021 among ethnic minorities from hill tribe communities of Phayao Province, Northern Thailand. A total of 252 adults ages 20 and older were recruited from various ethnic groups, including Indigenous (34.5%), Hmong (25.4%), and Mien (40.1%) peoples. The data were obtained from face-to-face interviews using questionnaires and from blood samples.

Multiple linear regression revealed that self-care behavior score was associated with ethnicity, age, education, and self-efficacy score (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol level was associated with ethnicity, gender, financial status, drinking alcohol, smoking, and underlying disease (p < 0.05). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was associated with gender, financial status, and drinking alcohol (p < 0.05). Creatinine level was predicted by ethnicity, gender, age, smoking, and self-care behaviors (p < 0.05). Alcohol consumption was found to be a predictor of body mass index and blood pressure (p < 0.05).

Health promotion programs for specific populations should emphasize public health benefits (e.g., reducing risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), increasing health awareness and health beliefs for better outcome expectations, and enhancing the ability to perform self-health management routinely) in accordance with the local context of the studied population.