Socio-Demographic Determinants of Self-Rated Health in Brazil

Self-rated health has been used extensively in epidemiologic studies, not only due to its importance per se but also due to the validity established by its association with clinical conditions & with greater risk of subsequent morbidity & mortality. In this study, the socio-demographic determinants of good self-rated health are analyzed using data from the World Health Survey, adapted & carried out in Brazil in 2003. Logistic regression models were used, with age & sex as covariables, & educational level, a household assets index, & work-related indicators as measures of socioeconomic status. Besides the effects of sex & age, with consistently worst health perception among females & among the eldest, the results showed pronounced socioeconomic inequalities. After adjusting for age, among females the factors that contributed most to deterioration of health perception were incomplete education & material hardship; among males, besides material hardship, work related indicators (manual work, unemployment, work retirement or incapable to work) were also important determining factors. Among individuals with long-term illness or disability, the socioeconomic gradient persisted, although of smaller magnitude. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.