Self-rated health among adults and older adults living in a small city in Northern Minas Gerais: a cross-sectional study, 2024

Self-rated health (SRH) is a key subjective indicator and predictor of morbidity and mortality, particularly relevant in socially vulnerable settings. This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2024, assessed the prevalence and factors associated with poor SRH (“fair,” “poor,” or “very poor”) among 374 adults and older adults living in a small city in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance within a hierarchical model framework. The findings revealed that female sex, Black race/skin color, lack of employment, low consumption of vegetables and legumes, and self-reported cardiovascular disease were independently associated with poor SRH. These results highlight the need for targeted public policies and interventions to reduce health inequalities and improve quality of life in small municipalities with greater socioeconomic vulnerability.