A prevalence survey of behavioural risk factors in Taipei City, Taiwan

In 1986, we conducted a telephone survey of 2514 residents of Taipei City, Taiwan, to establish baseline prevalence estimates of behavioural risk factors associated with the leading causes of death among adults. Estimates from this survey revealed a high prevalence of sedentary lifestyle (85.6%), seatbelt non-use (67.5%) and motorcycle helmet non-use (31.3%). The smoking rate (26.1%) was similar to that in the US, however, there was almost a tenfold difference between smoking rates in men and women (48.0% versus 5.1%, respectively). Behaviours related to alcohol misuse (binge drinking, chronic heavy drinking and driving and drinking) were also much more prevalent among men than women. This survey demonstrated the feasibility of using the telephone to collect data on the prevalence of behavioural risk factors in a newly industrialized country like Taiwan.