Finnish Healthy Village Study: health profile analysis for local health promotion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Finnish Healthy Village Study started in 1981 as an innovative local level health promotion project in a small Syvänniemi village in North Savo, Middle-Eastern Finland. In 1986, health profile analysis was carried out in four villages in North Savo. Altogether, 793 people working age (20–64 years) participated in the first health profile analysis. Low education level, lack of social support, strenuous work, fatty food and lack of physical exercise were identified as social, nutritional and behavioural risk factors for health. One third of the males and females were lacking a close friend with whom to share joys and sorrows. The lack of spouse was a real social problem for 22% of males and 13% of females. Loneliness was a serious problem among young male farmers and elderly women (widows). Heavy food, rich in animal fat and poor in fresh vegetables, was reflected by the high serum cholesterol concentration (mean 6.6 mmol/l) and low plasma concentration of vitamin C (34.4 μmol/7 in males and 51.2 μmol/l in females). Marked deficiency of vitamin C (<11.4 μmol/l) was found in 25% of males. The functional and working capacity deteriorated rapidly with age. One or more long-term diseases were found in 66% of people 50–64 years of age. The health profile analysis revealed the obvious need for active health promotion of people of working age in villages.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: