Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Thai Women

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem among women worldwide. In Thailand, risk factors of CVD in rural Thai women have not yet been examined. The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to examine risk factors of CVD in rural Thai women. Non-modifiable risk factors, modifiable risk factors (physiological, behavioral, and psychological risk factors), contextual risk factors, as well as, coping were conceptualized as major variables in this study.The sample consisted of 149 rural Thai women who had been diagnosed with CVD and resided in rural northern Thailand. A set of questionnaires and physiological measures were used to obtain data. The Chi-square test and the Pearson correlation technique, as well as the Multiple regression were used for data analysis.The results revealed that age, hypertension, cigarette smoking, stress, depression, and poverty had positive relationships with the severity of CVD. BMI, physical activity, education level, and family income were inversely related to the severity of CVD. However, total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, menopause status, alcohol consumption, distance to hospital, transportation to health care, and coping had no relationship to the severity of CVD. A few of the physiological and behavioral risk factors were significant predictors of the severity of CVD in rural Thai women. These included high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and physical inactivity. Notably, psychological stress and the contextual risk factors of income and poverty were also significant predictors of the severity of CVD in these women. Moreover, there were the significant moderator effects in predicting to the severity of CVD: total serum cholesterol and family income, diabetes and distance to a hospital, BMI and transportation, menopause and income, cigarette smoking and transportation, and depression and poverty.In conclusion, the findings from this study suggested that few of traditional risk factors of CVD were significant risk factors for CVD. Noteworthy findings demonstrated that psychological stress and contextual risk factors played an important role in contributing to CVD in rural Thai women. It is suggested that specific and effective interventions are needed for these women in order to reduce their morbidity and mortality rates of CVD