Socio-demographic determinants of self-rated health in Brazil

Abstract

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 and with greater risk of subsequent morbidity and mortality. In this study, the socio-demographic determinants of good self-rated health are analyzed using data from the World Health Survey, adapted and carried out in Brazil in 2003. Logistic regression models were used, with age and sex as covariables, and educational level, a household assets index, and work-related indicators as measures of socioeconomic status. Besides the effects of sex and age, with consistently worst health perception among females and 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 and 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.

Association of perceived neighborhood problems and census tract income with poor self-rated health in adults: a multilevel approach

“…Associations between self-rated health and measures of socioeconomic status are well established 4,5 . Individuals from lower socioeconomic position groups experience worse health and present higher rates of deterioration of their health over the course of their lives when compared with those who belong to wealthier groups 5,6 .…”

Autoavaliação do estado de saúde e a associação com fatores sociodemográficos, hábitos de vida e morbidade na população: um inquérito nacional

“…É, portanto, um indicador subjetivo e engloba tanto componentes físicos quanto emocionais dos indivíduos, além de aspectos do bem-estar e da satisfação com a própria vida. A percepção do paciente de se sentir doente não advém apenas das sensações físicas de dor e desconforto, mas, sobretudo, das consequências sociais e psicológicas da presença da enfermidade 4 . Este indicador vem sendo amplamente utilizado em estudos epidemiológicos, tanto pela sua relativa facilidade de captação em inquéritos populacionais, como também pela sua validade, sendo importante preditor de morbidade e de mortalidade e apresentando associação com determinadas condições clínicas 5,6 .…”

Auto-percepção das condições de saúde da população adulta, Sul do Brasil

“…Subjective measures such as self-rating provide information on the health situation of populations, 7 and are considered predictors of morbidity, disability and mortality. 6 Regarding this last component, self-rating is a better predictor than objective measures of the health condition, as it refl ects an integrated apprehension of the individual in the biological, psychological and social dimensions, and presents high reliability and validity.…”

“…5 However, few studies relate the population's self-reporting of its health status to its life conditions. 4,7 Referring to Canguilhem's 1 classic analysis of health as an expression of people's "ways of leading life", these ways of living place health-associated factors in normativity fi elds situated beyond the limits of the physical body, oriented towards their conditions of expression in daily life. Thus, health and illness express life and shape phenomena that translate life processes and their concrete form to each person and population group.…”

“…2 National surveys a confi rm that self-reported health problems are unequally distributed across socially different people, and less favored social groups are the most affected. 5,7 The jeopardizing of daily activities together with self-rated health are prominent components of the population's quality of life and health. 3 Studies of adults' self-rated health are more frequent in elderly populations 5 and desirable to evaluate whether subjective indicators applied to this population are appropriate to the younger adult.…”