The Negative Health Impacts of Globalization: Personal Health Responsibility and the Epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases in Pacific Island Nations
Philip Szmedra

Abstract
Individuals in the developing world are quick to adopt patterns of behavior that mimic Western trends even when those trends have negative long term effects on health. In this study we relate survey results describing attitudes and perceptions toward individual health responsibility of people being treated for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. We construct four sets of regression equations reflecting four measures of health promoting lifestyle actions. Our regression results suggest that better outcomes can be expected when populations are better educated. They are more aware of effective management mechanisms for dealing with their illness and more willing to apply those mechanisms to their daily lives. Therefore more aggressive measures to promote prevention are needed which must include novel health education approaches.

Full Text: PDF