Academic literature on the topic 'KAPs survey'

Abstract Background: Despite the rise in the occurrence of skin cancer, primary care nurse practitioners are reluctant to perform skin cancer assessments during patient visits. Melanoma is almost always curable if detected in the early stages, but invasive disease accounts for 9,000 deaths per year (American Cancer Society, 2013). Changing knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding skin cancer assessments potentially leads to early detection and treatment of skin cancers and impacts patient outcomes. However, in order to change knowledge and attitudes, we must first assess them. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to validate a new skin cancer assessment tool instrument called KAP-SCA to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice in primary care NPs. Methods: Sequential mixed methods were used. First, focus group interviews with 14 primary care nurse practitioners were conducted during Phase I. Interviews were audio-recorded then transcribed verbatim and imported into ATLAS.ti. Phase II involved instrument development from a blueprint and calculation of content validity indexes (CVI) for items and subscales. Phase III of this study included testing the validity and reliability of a KAP instrument using quantitative methods. This new instrument assesses primary care nurse practitioner knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding skin cancer assessment. Results: Content validity for the subscales was evaluated by CVI ranged from .90 to .95. The Cronbach's alpha was highest for the practice subscale (alpha =.89) while the lowest was seen with the knowledge subscales (alpha =.50). Construct validity assessed by exploratory factor analysis indicated the presence of three underlying factors, confidence in practice, confidence relating to education and NP role in practice. Implications for Practice: Interventions need to be developed based on the knowledge deficits and barriers to practice identified by these NPs including educational programs that focus on increasing primary care NPs' knowledge and confidence levels regarding skin cancer assessments and identification of malignant lesions. Conclusion: Beginning evidence of validity and reliability were found for the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice-Skin Cancer Assessments (KAP-SCA), however further studies are warranted.

More than 30 years after the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported, the disease continues to pose challenges for governments and communities across the world, but particularly in Southern Africa. Response to the disease is hindered by contextual influences, which vary between countries and cultural groups. With HIV/AIDS, one size does not fit all. The complexity of this disease is still not fully understood and information regarding its spread and prevalence is often fluid and unreliable. Communities’ emotional reaction to HIV/AIDS, including stigmatising, plays a role in this scenario. FBOs (including churches) are uniquely positioned to provide HIV/AIDS education and prevention messages through their extensive networks that reach even the most remote villages. However, during the era of HIV/AIDS, FBOs or their members have been the target of criticism. They have been accused of promoting stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes based on fear and prejudice, of pronouncing harsh moral judgements on those infected and of reducing the issues of AIDS to mere moral issues. The primary research question in this research focused on determining the nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders. The study questionnaires were completed by aspiring faith-based leaders who participated in Choose Life training programmes. These aspiring faith-based leaders were used as an indirect measure of stigma in their respective FBOs. The assumption is made that the attitude of faith-based leaders may affect the communities they serve. A KAP survey was used to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices within these organisations. A group of 133 aspiring faith-based leaders who attended a HospiVision training programme, Choose Life, participated in the study. Non-parametric tests were used in the analysis of the data. Test include Spearman Rho correlations, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney. It was found that respondents are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. Despite their high level of knowledge, there is still fear and worry about sharing eating or drinking utensils with those infected. Unrealistic fear of HIV transmission is one of the building blocks of HIV-related stigma. Respondents were generally unaware of people living with the virus in their congregation. This demonstrates that disclosure of HIV status is relatively low. It may be a fear of stigma that represents a barrier to disclosure. A high percentage of respondents (44%) indicated that they would feel ashamed should the virus infect them or someone in their family (28%). They were, however, more accepting of other people who are infected (only 12% indicated PLWHA should be ashamed). These contradictions make it difficult to understand the level of stigmatising and the reasons behind the responses. In spite of prevention campaigns run by various organisations, stigma and discrimination still exist and this may hamper our response to the illness. The study was relatively small, but its results are similar to those of earlier studies conducted nationally among faith-based leaders. Stigma and discrimination remain factors that have to be considered in all programmes developed to address the current HIV crisis. Even when knowledge about the disease is significant and respondents are well educated, some stigma still prevails. FBOs are amongst the institutions in society that shape the values and attitudes that guide responses to illness and vulnerability and that support appropriate and compassionate responses. This research shows that FBOs have an important role to play in promoting religious beliefs that confront stigma and in encouraging positive dialogue to counter damaging thought patterns in communities.<br>Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013.<br>am2014<br>Psychology<br>unrestricted

L’épilepsie survient à tout âge, mais les causes, l’expression clinique, les complications et le retentissement social, sont fonction de l’âge des sujets. En Afrique subsaharienne, les données épidémiologiques, les données portant sur la scolarisation et le retentissement de l’épilepsie de l’enfant sont peu accessibles. Afin d’évaluer les aspects socioculturels et thérapeutiques de l’épilepsie de l’enfant au Gabon, nous avons réalisé une revue de la littérature sur l’épilepsie de l’enfant en Afrique subsaharienne et deux enquêtes transversales, l’une sur les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques et les représentations socioculturelles de l’épilepsie de l’enfant auprès des enseignants et des personnels de santé, l’autre sur la qualité de vie des enfants souffrant d’épilepsie et de leurs parents. En Afrique subsaharienne, les données sur l’épilepsie de l’enfant sont diluées dans les études étendues à la population entière. La prévalence de l’épilepsie de l’enfant varie de 2 à 297 ‰ et son incidence de 17 à 930 / 100 000 personnes-années. Les facteurs périnataux, les crises fébriles et les facteurs infectieux sont les plus décrits alors que les facteurs génétiques demeurent peu étudiés. La prise en charge de l’enfant reste limitée à cause de l’insuffisance des ressources humaines, des moyens diagnostics et de l’accès aux traitements antiépileptiques mais aussi à cause de la persistance des préjugés et des croyances négatives sur l’épilepsie communément retrouvées parmi les enseignants, les enfants en âge scolaire et dans la population. Les enfants épileptiques sont une source d’angoisse, de perturbations socioprofessionnelles et scolaires pour leurs parents et de leur fratrie. Les enquêtes ont retrouvé un niveau de connaissance bas, une persistance de croyances négatives, notamment celles qui considèrent l’épilepsie comme une affection contagieuse ou transmissible, une maladie psychiatrique ou un retard mental ou encore une maladie surnaturelle. Ces considérations rencontrées indifféremment en milieu urbain ou rural semblent tenir leur explication dans la conception culturelle de l’épilepsie qui renvoie cette maladie à une cause extérieure ; un animal ou un mauvais esprit. En milieu rural, les enfants n’ont généralement pas d’avis médical, mais la scolarisation reste supérieure à 50 % indépendamment de leur milieu de vie. La non-scolarisation est liée aux comorbidités, à l’attitude réfractaire des parents et de certains chefs d’établissements scolaires. L’anxiété, les troubles du comportement, les troubles cognitifs et les troubles de la sociabilité restent élevés. La qualité de vie des parents de l’enfant épileptique est altérée. Ce travail sera étendu à d’autres localités du Gabon pour inclure plus d’enfants épileptiques et mettre en place une cohorte. Cette cohorte pourra servir à l’évaluation de la fraction attribuable des infections (notamment celle du paludisme grave) dans la survenue de l’épilepsie ; l’évaluation du stigma chez l’enfant épileptique et leurs parents et à la mise en place de programmes d’éducation thérapeutique et de promotion de la santé auprès des familles, des enseignants et des personnels de santé<br>Epilepsy occurs at any age, but the causes, clinical manifestations, complications and social impact, depend on the age of the subjects. In Sub-Saharan Africa epidemiological data, data on enrollment and the impact of the child's epilepsy are difficult to access. To assess the socio-cultural and therapeutic aspects of the child's epilepsy in Gabon, we conducted a review of the literature on child epilepsy in SSA and two cross-sectional surveys, one on knowledge, attitudes, practices and socio-cultural representations of childhood epilepsy in teachers and health workers, the other on the impact of epilepsy on the children with epilepsy and their parent. In SSA, the data on child epilepsy drowned in studies extended to the general community. The prevalence of childhood epilepsy varies from 2.04 to 297/1000 and its incidence from 17 to 930/100.000 person-years. Perinatal factors, febrile seizures and infectious factors are most described while genetic factors remain poorly studied. The care of the child remains limited due to the lack of human resources, diagnostic means and access to AEDs but also because of the persistence of prejudices and negative beliefs about epilepsy commonly found in teachers, school children and in the community. Children with epilepsy are a source of anxiety, disruption of socio-professional and academic activities for parents and their siblings. The surveys found a low level of knowledge, persistence of negative beliefs, including those that consider epilepsy as a contagious or communicable disease, psychiatric illness or mental retardation or a supernatural disease. These considerations found in urban and rural areas could be explained by the cultural conception of epilepsy that links the disease to an external cause, to an animal, or an evil spirit. In rural areas, children usually have no medical advice, but enrollment is still above 50% regardless of their living environment. Non-enrollment is related to comorbidities, the refractory attitude of parents and some school heads. Anxiety, behavioral disorders, cognitive disorders and disorders of sociability remain high. The quality of life of epileptic children's parents is impaired. This work will be extended to other areas to include more children with epilepsy and build a cohort. This cohort will be used to assess the attributable fraction of infections (including that of severe malaria) in the occurrence of epilepsy; to assess the stigma of epileptic children and their parents and to implement the therapeutic education programs and health promotion with families, teachers and health workers

In Italia si registrano annualmente circa 3500 nuovi casi e 1000 morti per carcinoma invasivo della cervice uterina (CC), la prima neoplasia ad essere riconosciuta dall’OMS come totalmente riconducibile all’infezione da tipi oncogeni di Papilloma virus umano (HPV). Attualmente la prevenzione del CC si basa su programmi di screening mediante Pap-test; la recente disponibilità dei vaccini contro l’HPV ha aperto la strada alla prevenzione primaria di questo tumore. Il Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) ha condotto il progetto nazionale “PreGio” (PREvenzione GIOvani) in collaborazione con 10 ASL di sei Regioni italiane. Gli obiettivi di questo progetto erano: 1) descrivere la prevalenza delle infezione da tipi oncogeni di HPV; 2) realizzare un’indagine su conoscenza, attitudine e pratica (CAP) su HPV e prevenzione del cervicocarcinoma; 3) valutare la fattibilità dell’offerta vaccinale in donne di 18-26 anni. Metodi Il protocollo dello studio prevedeva l’arruolamento di 2000 donne di 18-26 anni, campionate dalle liste anagrafiche di popolazione e stratificate per 2 fasce d’età: 18-24 e 25-26 anni. Le donne campionate sono state randomizzate in quattro gruppi con un diverso percorso nell’ambito del progetto. A tutte le donne è stato offerto un colloquio sulla prevenzione del CC, un Pap-test, un test HPV (utilizzando il test Hybrid Capture 2); i campioni positivi sono stati tipizzati con PCR. A 1000 donne è stato somministrato un questionario su HPV e prevenzione del carcinoma della cervice uterina e ad altre 1000 è stata offerta la vaccinazione contro l’HPV. I dati sono stati inseriti localmente su una piattaforma web dedicata. L’analisi descrittiva univariata e multivariata è stata effettuata in ISS utilizzando il Package statistico STATA 9.2. Risultati Il tasso di partecipazione al progetto è stato del 58% con un ampio range tra le ASL (34-84%). Il test HPV ha rilevato la presenza di infezione nel 19% dei campioni, senza differenze per area geografica e fascia di età. Il tipo più frequente è risultato HPV 16 seguito da 31, 66, 51, 18. La proporzione di donne positive è risultata maggiore nelle donne nubili; in chi non convive con il proprio partner; nelle nullipare ed aumenta con l’aumentare del numero di partner. Complessivamente il 50% del campione è stato vaccinato. L’adesione è stata inferiore al Sud, nelle ragazze più grandi (25-26 anni), nelle coniugate e nelle donne con titolo di studio basso. Sono state intervistate 667 donne per l’indagine CAP. Il 92% delle intervistate ha riferito di aver sentito parlare del Pap-test, il 59% del papillomavirus e il 52% del vaccino contro l’HPV. Amici e parenti rappresentano la principale fonte di informazioni sul Pap-test; i mass-media su HPV e vaccino. Il 31, 13 e 8% delle donne ha ricevuto informazioni dai ginecologi su Pap-test, HPV e vaccino rispettivamente e il 12, 7 e 8% le ha ricevute dai medici di base. Il 63% sa che il Pap-test serve a prevenire il cervicocarcinoma, ma solo il 28% ritiene che vada ripetuto ogni tre anni. Il 63% sa che le infezioni da HPV sono frequenti, ma solo il 21% sa che gran parte delle infezioni regredisce spontaneamente e il 26% che l’HPV può provocare questo tumore. Il livello di conoscenza sulla prevenzione del CC è maggiore nelle donne con titolo di studio elevato (OR=1.53 95%CI 0.98-2.41) e in quelle che non hanno ancora effettuato un Pap-test preventivo (OR= 1.40 95%CI 0.97-2.02) mentre è minore in chi ha già avuto figli (OR=0.40 95%CI 0.22-0.74). Il 73% è propenso a vaccinarsi e nell’81% dei casi il consiglio di un medico di fiducia influirebbe molto/abbastanza su questa decisione. Le donne con uno score di conoscenza alto (OR=2,95 95%CI 1,86-4,71) e quelle con 5 o più partner (OR=2,41 95%CI 1,17-4,95) sono più propense a vaccinarsi, mentre le donne di 25-26 anni (OR=0,491 95%CI 0,32-0,76) rispetto alle più giovani e quelle che riferiscono di usare sempre/spesso il profilattico (OR=0,66 95%CI 0,43-1,01) hanno una probabilità maggiore di non accettare l’offerta vaccinale. Conclusioni Lo studio PreGio ha permesso di raccogliere dati di prevalenza su un campione consistente di donne giovani del Nord, Centro e Sud Italia prima dell’introduzione della vaccinazione contro l’HPV. La fascia di età 18-26 anni si è dimostrata difficile da raggiungere, infatti, nonostante il setting protetto dello studio, è stato vaccinato soltanto il 50% del campione. In un’ottica di salute pubblica l’organizzazione di una campagna vaccinale attiva deve tener conto, oltre alle caratteristiche epidemiologiche della malattia da prevenire, anche di altri fattori quali le priorità a livello locale, le risorse umane e finanziarie e i livelli di copertura vaccinale da raggiungere perché la campagna sia costo/efficace. I risultati dell’indagine CAP confermano l’urgente bisogno di una comunicazione evidence-based rivolta alla popolazione target da parte di professionisti sanitari opportunamente formati. Alla luce delle richieste del Consiglio Superiore di Sanità che ha raccomandato di raccogliere maggiori evidenze prima di procedere con un’eventuale offerta attiva della vaccinazione a fasce di età diverse dalle dodicenni, PreGio ha raccolto informazioni utili per la programmazione di eventuali programmi vaccinali di catch up e per il miglioramento dei contenuti della comunicazione che gli operatori sanitari si trovano ad affrontare con l’introduzione dei vaccini contro l’HPV.<br>National project for the prevention of cervical cancer in young women (PREGIO): knowledge, attitudes and practices survey, prevalence of human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and feasibility of HPV vaccination offer. Introduction Each year in Italy 3500 cases and 1000 deaths attributable to cervical cancer (CC) are reported. The causal role of certain human papillomavirus (HPV) types in all cervical cancers is well established. Currently, CC prevention is based on pap smear cervical screening programmes; recent availability of vaccines against HPV has opened the way for primary prevention of this neoplasm. The National Center for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion of the Italian Health Institute (ISS) carried out a National project “PreGio” in collaboration with 10 Local Health Units (LHU) of six Italian Regions. The objectives of this project were to: 1) describe the prevalence of oncogenic types HPV infections, 2) perform a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey on HPV and CC prevention, and 3) evaluate the feasibility of the HPV vaccine offer in women aged 18-26 years. Methods The study protocol planned to recruit 2000 women aged 18-26 years, sampled from the anagraphic population lists and stratified for two age groups (18-24 and 25-26 years old), and randomize them into four groups with a different path within the project. All women were offered an informative conversation on CC prevention, a cervical smear for Papanicolaou and HPV test (using the Hybrid Capture 2 test); positive samples were genotyped by PCR. A sample of 1000 women were also submitted to a questionnaire on HPV and CC prevention and other 1000 women were offered HPV vaccination. Collected data were uploaded on a web platform by LHU’s operators. Data analysis was performed at ISS using the STATA 9.2 statistical package. Results The project participation rate was 58% with a wide range among LHUs (34-84%). The infection rate was 19%, without differences by geographical area and age. The most frequent viral type was HPV 16, followed by 31, 66, 51, 18. HPV prevalence was higher in never married women, in women not living with their partner, in nulliparous and increased with increasing number of sexual partners. Overall, half of the women were vaccinated. The vaccination rate was lower in the South, in women aged 25-26 years (compared with 18-24 years), married girls and women with a low educational level. Among the 667 women interviewed (KAP survey), 92% had already heard about pap smear cervical screening, 59% about the papillomavirus and 52% about the HPV vaccine. Friends and relatives represented the main source of information on pap smear; media on HPV and vaccine. In total 31, 13 and 8% of women had received information from gynecologists on Pap-test, HPV and vaccine respectively and 12, 7 and 8% from primary care physicians. For 63% of respondents the main purpose of the pap smear was preventing cervical cancer, but only for 28% the cervical smear had to be carried out every three years; 63% of women thought that HPV infections are frequent, but only 21% that most HPV infections regress spontaneously and 26% that HPV can cause this neoplasm. Knowledge level about CC prevention was lower in parous compared with nulliparous (OR=0.40 95%CI 0.22-0.74) while higher in women with a high educational level (OR=1.53 95%CI 0.98-2.41) and in women who had never benefit from a preventive pap smear (OR= 1.40 95%CI 0.97-2.02). Overall, 73% of women intended to be vaccinated and the support of a physician was quite/very influent on the decisional process for 81% of respondents. The intent to receive the vaccine was significantly greater among women who reported ≥ 5 partners (OR=2,41 95%CI 1,17-4,95) and with a high knowledge score (OR=2,95 95%CI 1,86-4,71), while women aged 25-26 years (OR=0,491 95%CI 0,32-0,76) and women who reported to use always/often the condom (OR=0,66 95%CI 0,43-1,01) were less likely to be vaccinated. Conclusions This project allowed to collect prevalence data on a large sample of young women in Northern, Central and Southern Italy before the introduction of the HPV vaccination. In regards to vaccination, women aged 18-26 years proved to be a difficult target, in fact, though the protected setting of the project, only half of the sample was vaccinated. From a public health perspective the organization of an active vaccination campaign should take into consideration, besides the epidemiological features of the preventable disease, also the local priorities, human and financial resources and vaccination coverage levels to be achieved so that the campaign is cost/effective. The results of the KAP survey strengthen the urgent need of evidence-based educational activities addressed to the target population from opportunely trained healthcare professionals. In conclusion, also considering that the Superior Council of the Italian Ministry of Health recommended to collect more evidences before extending the active offer of HPV vaccination to age groups older than 11 years, the project “PreGio” collected useful information for planning catch up vaccination campaigns and improving the communication contents which many health operators have to face since the introduction of the HPV vaccines.

This study assessed environmental health risk from dioxin in foods and sustainability of risk reduction programs at two heavily contaminated former military sites in Vietnam. The study involved 1000 household surveys, analysis of food samples and in-depth discussions with residents and officials. The findings indicate that more than 40 years after the war, local residents still experience high exposure to dioxin if they consume local high risk foods. Public health intervention programs were rated moderately to well sustained. Internal migration, and lack of clear, official guidance and sensitivity regarding dioxin issues were the main challenges for sustainability of prevention programs.

The presented thesis is focused on a comprehensive evaluation of situation related to the Tick-borne encephalitis on the territory of the Liberec Region in years 2001 2016. One of the main aims was to process the results of a demographic analysis of the Tick-borne encephalitis cases. These cases have been reported for 16 years within the so-called Tick-borne encephalitis surveillance to the system called EPIDAT by the Regional public health authority of the Liberec Region. Thank these analyzed data it was possible to create maps which illustrate particular focuses of the Tick-borne encephalitis in the Liberec Region and which graphically draw attention to locations threatened with infection. The KAP questionnaire study was held in a chosen Tick-borne encephalitis focus in order to improve a prevention of the Tick-borne encephalitis in the Region. This study was focused on knowledge, attitudes, opinions and practice of locals related to an occurrence of ticks and also of the Tick-borne encephalitis transmitted by them. Together with data gathering was held the distribution of the informative leaflets and also edification in this issue by a discussion about respondent´s questions. The collected data were processed by a descriptive method and also were detailed to a statistics testing. Due to an amount of analyzed information, this testing did not bring any statistic important results in most of the questions. The contribution of this thesis is especially the processed data of the Tick-borne encephalitis for those mentioned 16 years. These data could be useful for example for arguments of the public health authorities in case of discussion related to the Tick-borne encephalitis issue. The questionnaire study pointed out a problem which could cause a failure of people prevention. This problem means less of interest in health issues from their side. The question is how to learn population to perceive the risk of this disease when the half of the respondents do not feel threatened by the Tick-borne encephalitis? This fact is not certainly a problem only in the prevention of infectious diseases.

碩士<br>輔仁大學<br>公共衛生學系碩士班<br>96<br>This study aimed to: (1) describe the prevalence of exercise behavior and depression tendency in Taiwan, and (2) analyze the relationships between exercise behavior and depression tendency. Data from Taiwan National Health KAP Interview Survey were analyzed. People of age 15 years and older (n=26,755) were reviewed by a three stage systematic random sampling of households in this cross-sectional study. The relationships between exercise behavior and depression tendency was analyzed by Chi-square test and logistic regression. The main findings of this study were as the following: 1. The subjects without exercise behavior were 44.8%. 2. The subjects with depression tendency were 4.8%. 3. Subjects who were males, older than 65 years old, illiterate, widowed, not working, at lower health status, at lower economic level or living alone were more likely to exercise regularly. 4. Subjects who were females, elderly and adolescents, widowed, divorced, separated, at lower health status, at lower economic status or living alone were at highest risk of depression tendency. 5. The relationships between exercise regularity and depression tendency were negative; and that between exercise intensity and depression tendency were positive. 6. When demographic factors were adjusted, regular exercise was the major factor to decrease depression tendency, and the relationships between exercise intensity and depression tendency were positive. According to the finding, we may apply to help develop the policy for preventing depression and promoting physical and mental health.

碩士<br>中山醫學大學<br>醫學研究所<br>97<br>Objective: This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the difference of perceived health status and life styles among elderly population of obese group and not-obese group in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: This study utilized cross-sectional data from the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health in Taiwan. The information was collected during the National Survey on Health Promotion Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (HP-KAP Survey) in 2002. This population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted by face-to-face interview of 26,755 Taiwanese, and had a response rate of 81.9%. The participants (596 obese and 3343 non-obese) in our study were aged 65 and over. Means, percentages, Chi-Square test, Spearman rank-order correlation and Logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of obesity among Taiwanese elderly was 12.8% in men and 17.7% in women. When using Spearman rank-order method to analyze the obese group, prominent correlations were found between the current perceived health status and chronic diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and renal disease. Similar results were seen within the non-obese group. When using Logistic regression, a correlation was identified in the elderly population in which those being older(OR= 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01- 1.04), non-exercisers (OR= 2.23, 95% CI: 1.92- 2.58), having more chronic diseases(OR= 1.62, 95% CI: 1.53- 1.72), living independently(OR= 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01- 1.60), visiting Western clinic(OR= 2.12, 95% CI: 1.81- 2.50), visiting Chinese clinic(OR= 1.74, 95% CI: 1.36- 2.23) and visiting alternative medicine clinic(OR= 1.39, 95% CI: 1.02- 1.88) in the past 1 month usually reported a poorer self-perceived health status. Significant correlation of age, BMI, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and the habit of smoking with obesity was found using Spearman rank-order correlation. After adjusting for age, gender, and years of formal education, logistic regression showed the risk of obesity was higher in elderly betel nut chewers than non-chewers(OR= 1.63, 95% CI: 1.01- 2.61) and elderly ex-smokers of cigarettes than non-smokers (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.07 - 1.97). Conclusions: Perceived health status among elderly population is correlated with the presence of chronic diseases as well as regular exercise. Therefore, our health care systems should be fully aware of these issues and consequently provide better control or care for those elderly patients with chronic diseases and simultaneously encourage them to participate more in regular exercise. More attention to the relationship between betel nut chewing and obesity in the elderly should be paid by our health care system to provide better care for this subgroup of obese elderly.