Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors: A Case Study in North of Iran

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors in one of the northern counties of Iran. Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Langrud County in 2019. In this study, 906 rural and urban households were surveyed using mixed sampling. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire of "NCD disease care system". Households’ exposure to NCD behavioral risk factors (including unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking) in different socio-economic groups was examined and compared with logistic regression models using the STATA software. Results: The probability of smoking in illiterate subjects and those with unfinished high school education and high school diploma was 5.1, 7.5 and 4.2 times higher than those with university education (OR = 5.1,7.5,4.2; P <0.05). The probability of unhealthy diets in the first and second quartiles of income (very low and low income) was 3.4 and 2.6 times higher compared to the people in the fourth quartile of income (high income) (P <0.05; OR = 3.4, 2.6). Conclusion: The micro-level socioeconomic inequalities (within the county) have a significant relationship with households’ exposure to NCD risk factors. Reducing socio-economic inequalities at the micro level should be considered as an appropriate tool to reduce health inequality at the macro level.