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Background: Evidence shows that living in disadvantaged areas is associated with poor health. This may be due to the socioeconomic (SE) characteristics of both these residents and the areas where they live. Evidence regarding this on Central European (CE) countries is scarce. Our aim was to assess whether the prevalence of poor self-rated health (SRH) was higher in deprived urban areas, whether this can be explained by individual SE status (SES) and whether this differed between Slovakia and the Netherlands per age group. We examined the association of urban-level data and individual-level SE factors from different urban areas in different countries (Slovakia, the Netherlands) using comparable urban health indicators and area indicators. We also obtained unique data from the EU-FP7 EURO-URHIS 2 project. Multilevel logistic regression showed that poor SRH was associated with area deprivation in both countries. Regarding age by country, poor SRH occurred more frequently in the more deprived areas for the younger age group (≤64) in the Netherlands but for the older age group (≥65 years) in Slovakia. Moreover, Slovak citizens reported poor SRH significantly more often than Dutch residents. Individual SES was significantly associated with poor SRH in both age groups and both countries for most area-level SE measures. Individual SES is associated with SRH more strongly than area deprivation. Therefore, it is important to account for relative deprivation at an individual level when considering health-enhancing activities. Moreover, the effect of urban-area deprivation seems to differ between CE and WE countries., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.)

Background: Health-risk behaviours (HRB) increase the risk of disability and chronic diseases at an older age. This study aimed to compare Slovakia and the Netherlands regarding differences in the prevalence of HRB by neighbourhood and individual deprivation and to determine whether area differences could be explained by the socio-economic position (SEP) of the residents., Methods: We obtained data on non-institutionalized residents aged ≥ 65 years from the EU-FP7: EURO-URHIS 2 project from Slovak (N = 665, response rate 44.0%) and Dutch cities (N = 795, response rate 50.2%). HRB concerned daily smoking, binge drinking, physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables and body mass index. Area deprivation was measured by the neighbourhood unemployment rate. Individual SEP was measured by education and household income with financial strain. We used multilevel logistic regression., Results: In Slovakia, no HRB was associated with either neighbourhood unemployment or individual SEP. The elderly in the Netherlands from the least favourable neighbourhoods were more likely to be daily smokers [odds ratio (OR) 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25, 4.30] and overweight (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.24, 2.75) than residents from the most favourable ones. For the Dutch elderly the gradients varied per HRB and per individual-level SEP indicator. Individual SEP explained country differences in the association of area unemployment with smoking and lack of physical activity but not that with overweight., Conclusion: Countries differed in the associations with HRB of both neighbourhood unemployment and individual SEP among the elderly urban residents. The local importance of socio-economic factors on both levels should be considered when developing health-promotion activities for the elderly., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.)

Background: Migration from sub-Saharan Africa to industrialized countries has increased tremendously over the last few decades, yet very little is known about the health status of sub-Saharan African populations living in industrialized communities. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence, levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among the largest sub-Saharan African group (Ghanaians) living in the Netherlands., Methods: Cross-sectional study of Ghanaian adults aged 18-60 years in Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 55%. Of these, about half were aware of their condition, 45% were receiving antihypertensive medication, and 15% were controlled (blood pressure <140/90 mmHg). The prevalence rates of hypertension, awareness, and treatment were similar among males and females. However, males had a lower blood pressure control rate than females. Among all hypertensives, 22% of females had their blood pressure controlled compared with 5.8% in males: adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) 3.94 (95% CI 1.05-14.79). Among those receiving treatment for their hypertension, 48% of females were controlled compared with only 13% of males: APR 4.08 (95% CI 1.20-13.87)., Conclusion: Hypertension is a major problem among this recently migrated sub-Saharan African population. Furthermore, hypertension control rate is very low particularly in males. Urgent measures are needed to halt the increasing prevalence of hypertension and to improve hypertension control among these populations.