Objectives  To analyze the relationship between the family per capita income and the health behavior (such as the burden of illness, types of drinking water, hygienic habits and sanitary toilets) of farmers in rural areas of Sichuan Province; in order to provide scientific basis for the government.

Methods  Fifty-one counties were randomly selected for the household survey; questionnaires were completed by on-site inspecting, interviewing and inquiring. The families selected by variety of family per capita income were divided into 3 groups and the investigation results for each group were analyzed.

Results  The medical expenses to the revenue ratio of low income families reached 26.75%.Most of surveyed families were based on well water and tap water, but the constituent ratio of drinking tap water was lower than 30% in all 3 groups. The constituent ratio of families accustomed to drinking boiled water or barreled pure water in high, medium and low income groups were 95.3%, 93.0% and 93.0% respectively. The number of people accustomed to drink raw water was less (χ²=18.36, P less than 0.05), washing hands before lunch and after using toilet was more (χ²=43.08, P less than 0.05) in high income family group than other 2 groups. The constituent ratio of cleaner indoor hygiene were 67.6%, 52.8% and 54.3% (χ²=90.15, P less than 0.05), and that of better sanitary latrine were 80.6%, 65.4% and 60.9% (χ²=164.34, P less than 0.05) in 3 groups respectively.

Conclusions  The sanitary condition and health consciousness in low income families were worse, and easily risking sickness. Incentive mechanism and regulatory mechanism should be established to increase the subsidy for drinking water and sanitation reform projects for low income families, and to achieve the equalization of public health services.