ObjectiveTo investigate the health status and health knowledge needs of rural residents in Bengbu city.

MethodsThe health status and health knowledge needs of 930 rural inhabitants aged over 15 years from 3 towns in Bengbu city were investigated using stratified randomized sampling method.

ResultsThe 56.36% of residents never had a physical examination, 33.75% of the residents considered that their health was good, 51.85% considered that their health was common, and 14.40% considered that their health was poor.The highest prevalence rate of chronic diseases was gastroenteritis(34.20%), hypertension(23.17%) and rheumatosis(13.72%).The difference of the prevalence rate of gastroenteritis between men and women was statistically significant(P < 0.05).The differences of the patients with gastroenteritis, hypertension and rheumatism among different ages and educational background were statistically significant(P < 0.05).The television(63.67%), internet(44.66%) and inquiring doctor(39.26%) were the main ways of inhabitants gaining health knowledge.The health knowledge of preventing common disease(71.09%), treatment of common disease(63.10%) and emergency processing of acute diseases(54.22%) was the most wanted to obtain.

ConclusionsThe health status of rural inhabitants in Bengbu city is common, and their aware ness of self-care is poor.The different health education activities targeted to the health knowledge needs of rural inhabitants should be carried out, which can improve the residents' health awareness and self-care ability.