Simultaneity of Behavioral Risk Factors among Military Police Officers in the Western Amazon

Introduction: Shift workers face challenges in maintaining healthy habits due to changes in their routines. Irregular work hours can lead to poor eating patterns, sedentary behavior, and compromised sleep quality. Additionally, the alternation between work and rest periods can disrupt the circadian rhythm, contributing to weight gain, obesity, and an increased risk of non- communicable chronic diseases. In this context, the aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and factors associated with the simultaneity of behavioral risk factors among military police officers in Rio Branco, Acre.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 91 military police officers from two battalions, working in 12-hour on/24-hour off and 12-hour on/72-hour off shifts. Data collection took place between December 2022 and July 2023 through a structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. Five modifiable risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases were investigated: smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight, physical inactivity, and sleep quality. The simultaneity of risk behaviors was evaluated using a score from 0 to 5, assigning one point for each factor present. For analysis, the data were categorized into two groups: 0 to 1 risk factor and 2 to 5 risk factors, with the latter considered as the presence of simultaneity. The analyses were performed using Stata software, and the association between variables was tested using Fisher's exact test, adopting a 5% significance level.

Results: Nearly 84% of the police officers reported poor sleep quality, 72.5% were overweight, 30.8% were physically inactive and reported excessive alcohol consumption, and 3.3% were smokers. The presence of simultaneity of behavioral risk factors was observed in 76.9% of the officers. A significant association was found between the simultaneity of risk factors and variables such as sex, age, marital status, length of service as a military police officer, and perceived safety in the work environment.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of developing specific public health strategies for shift workers, focusing on the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases and the promotion of healthy habits, to improve the quality of life and well-being of this population.

Publication History

Article published online:
08 October 2025