Introduction. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Risk factors include genetic predispositions, inflammatory bowel diseases and the lifestyle. Colorectal cancer is still late diagnosed. The village residents have a more difficult access to preventive activities, which may have an impact on their health behaviours. The aim. Analysis of villagers’ behaviours in prevention of colorectal cancer. Material and Methods: 160 inhabitants participated in the study. The criteria for participation in the study were the age below 40 and the lack of diagnosed colorectal cancer. The research tool was an original questionnaire consisting of a metric and a scale of health behaviours classified in five areas. Results. Participants of the study undertook health behaviours most frequently in the area of drug avoidance (M = 1.79), and the least frequently in the area of physical activity (M = 2.86) and nutrition (M = 2.68). People with more risk factors, professionally active people, as well as better educated people were more likely to have prophylactic examinations (p < 0.05). The older the participants were, the less frequently they used stimulants (p = 0.0001). Women show more frequent health behaviours in the following categories: nutrition, stimulants (p = 0.0008) and prophylactic tests (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The village dwellers with a higher number of risk factors implement significantly less frequently health behaviours in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Participants take up physical activity and undergo preventive examinations rarely. It is necessary to create the infrastructure for physical activity and information campaigns for the rural community. They should be particularly targeted at unemployed residents of rural areas, men and elderly people.

Key words: colorectal cancer, prophylaxis, health behaviours.