BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) status is a subjective assessment of one's health condition and can serve as a reliable indicator of a community’s overall health. This study aimed to evaluate the SRH status of communities and its association with socio-demographic and health-related variables at the population level.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the Addis Health and Demographic Surveillance System. SRH was assessed through a single question: "In general, would you say that your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?" These five categories were transformed into two groups: “Good SRH” and “Poor SRH.” Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between SRH status and socio-demographic and health-related characteristics.

RESULTS: A total of 46,483 adults (aged 18 and above) were included in the study. Of these, 4,377 (9.42%) participants reported poor SRH status. Male sex (OR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80 – 0.94), higher educational level (OR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.67 – 2.17), and the highest wealth index (OR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.55 – 2.00) were significantly associated with good SRH status, while older age (OR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.12 – 0.18) and the presence of any chronic illness (OR 0.08; 95% CI: 0.07 – 0.09) were directly and significantly associated with poor SRH status.

CONCLUSION: Poor SRH status was more prevalent among females, older individuals, those with lower education, lower wealth index, and those with chronic illnesses. These findings highlight the need for robust health facilities and support systems for women and the elderly population.

KEYWORDS: Self-rated health, adults, Addis Ababa, HDSS