Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 253-258
Prevalence and Correlates of Stomach and Exhaustion Complaints in a Municipal Context: A Population Based Study
Gloria Macassa*1,2,3, Anders Walander**3, Anne-Sofie Hiswåls**1, Nader Ahmadi*4
*Professor, **MSc,
1Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Sweden
2Department of Health Sciences, Mid-Sweden University, Sweden
3Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
4Department of Social Work and Psychology, University of Gävle, Sweden
Corresponding Author: Gloria Macassa
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The prevalence of somatic complaints has been found to be high across various populations in a variety of contexts. However, very few studies have been carried out at regional or municipality level. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stomach and exhaustion symptoms among economically active residents of Gävle municipality in East Central Sweden.
Methods: A total of 528 persons completed a self-administered postal questionnaire in the baseline survey of the Gävle Household, Labour Market and Health Outcomes (GHOLDH) survey, which collected information on somatic complaints using the Giessen Complaint List (GBB-24) among persons aged 18–65 years. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were performed.
Results: The study found a high prevalence of stomach and exhaustion somatic symptoms among women than men, the not employed than employed as well among those in the age group 55-65 years of age. In addition results of the regression analysis found that income and female sex were statistically significantly associated with stomach complaints and income with exhaustion complaints.
Conclusion: The prevalence of stomach and exhaustion somatic complaints was higher among women, the unemployed and the oldest age group. Also, the study found a strong statistically significant relationship between stomach complaints and income.
Key words: Gävle municipality, stomach and exhaustion complaints; correlates.