Lifestyle for Longevity: A Multi Country Study on Chronic Disease and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviour

Henry A. Tagoe, University of Ghana

Behavioural change has been identified as a major driver of effective disease prevention and management in the phase of epidemiological transition globally. This study examines risk and preventive behaviours of chronic disease among adult population controlling for chronic disease status and selected socio-demographic factors. The WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) data were analysed employing factory analysis to measure healthy lifestyle behaviour (HLB) and regression modelling to investigate the predictive factors of HLB controlling for chronic disease status and socio-demographic characteristics. The result shows HLB differentials across the countries studied. Living with at least one chronic disease is associated with increase likelihood of HLB. Age, sex, education, employment and wealth are significant predictors of HLB in most of the countries. The paper argues that the significant differences in HLB in favour of chronic disease persons will chart a new pathway for epidemiological transition in the Global South.