Self-rated health status, functional difficulties in health domains and non-communicable diseases in Oman: Evidence from the World Health Survey in Oman

This paper examined the pattern of self-rated Health (SRH) status, functional difficulties in health domains and non-communicable diseases among the Omani adult people. The paper also evaluated the association of SRH with the health functional difficulties and the chronic diseases. The data for the study obtained from the 2008 Oman World Health survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 3,770 Omani adult respondents of age 18 and above. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, such as frequency distribution, bivariate analysis with chi-square test, factor analysis, multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. The study revealed a very high rate of perceived good health status among Omani adults, as 78% of the adults rated their health as good or very good, while only 4% rated their health as bad or very bad and 18% as moderate. Female, elderly adult, people with low level of education, poor and widowed/divorced/separated were more likely to rate their health as bad or very bad. Poor SRH significantly associated with higher prevalence of all chronic diseases as well as higher functional difficulties of health domains. SRH can be used as a health screening tool in the national health care system, and health providers should incorporate it in their clinical practice. Appropriate intervention and policy measure should be taken to improve the health of the sub-groups of people with poor SRH, difficulties, and chronic diseases that have been identified in this study