Self-destructive behaviour in the Hungarian population

In Hungary today the mortality rate of middle aged (55-64 years old) men is higher than it was in the 1930s. Within these statistics there are considerable socioeconomic differences, the mortality rate of lower secondary or lower educated middle aged men is 1.45 times higher than among those with higher education. About 40% of these socioeconomic mortality differences can be explained by higher prevalence of risk behaviour in lower socioeconomic groups. According to the results of our national representative survey conducted in the Hungarian population with 12640 persons in 1995, the prevalence of smoking was 45.5% among men and 26.6% among women. In the populaton younger than 45 years old the prevalence of smoking among men was 47.9%, among women 31.9%. Among men there is a clear socioeconomic gradient in smoking, in the number of daily cigarettes, the quantity of spirit consumption in one occasion, among women this socioeconomic gradient is not so obvious. The effectiveness of health promotion programmes depends on effective management of the motivational, psychological determinants of risk behaviour.