Predictors of High-Risk Behaviors in Municipal Workers and Staff in Zahedan, South-East of Iran

Background: In addition to the direct effect on health, high-risk behaviors expose people to a variety of disorders and affect their activities. Despite the importance of investigating the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among municipal workers, no comprehensive study has yet been conducted in this area. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the predictors of high-risk behaviors among municipal workers in Zahedan city, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 671 municipal workers and staff from different parts of Zahedan city in 2013. Information was collected through face to face interviews and registering answers in data forms. Data were analyzed in stata.12 software using chi-square and multivariate regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05. Results: Fifty-seven participants (8.5%) reported previous high-risk behaviors. According to the logistic regression test, only ethnicity and education variables were significantly related to the prevalence of high-risk behavior (P < 0.05). Although those with a longer work history had greater odds of high-risk behaviors than newly employed workers, this variable had no significant relationship with high-risk behaviors, and only improved the fitness and remained in the final model. Conclusions: High-risk behaviors are not highly prevalent among municipal workers and staff, and have no relationship with the occupation type. Given the higher prevalence of high-risk behaviors among more educated workers, there should be no concern about high-risk behaviors in less-educated ones. In conclusion, the ethnicity and educational level revealed as important predictors of high-risk behaviors among municipal workers.