Comparison of two-week morbidity and chronic disease morbidity among Kazakh herdsmen

Objective To compare the changes of health status among Kazakh herdsmen in Xinyuan county of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before and after the NewRural Cooperative Medical Scheme(NCMS)implementation and to provide evidence for policy making and medical reform.Methods The data were from Health Service Survey conducted in the years of 2006 and 2008.The two-week morbidity and chronic diseases morbidity were analyzed with descriptive methods.Results The two-week morbidity rate incresased from 8.05%(2006)to 11.78%(2008),(χ²=21.02,P < 0.05).The chronic diseases morbidity increased from 15.97%(2006)to 24.27%(2008),(χ²=57.88,P < 0.05).Rheumatoid arthritis,hypertension,chronic gastroenteritis,gall-stone and cholecystitis,and anemia were the main diseases that Kazakh herdsmen suffered from.Conclusion Before and after the NCMS implementation,the health service needs of Kazakh herds men in Xinyuan county increased evidently.