Impact of socioeconomic status on Brazilian elderly health

Bibliographic Data

ID9259323
AuthorsMarília Patta Ramos (0000-0003-0880-8269, Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, corresponding author), Marília Ramos (Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul)
Year2007
Volume41
Issue4
Pages616-624
Publication date2007-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRevista de Saúde Pública (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-8910 • E-ISSN: 0034-8910
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0034-89102006005000042
PMID17589760
OpenAlexW2077953598
SCIELO_PIDS0034-89102007000400016
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited24

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on elderly health. METHODS: The study was based on cross-sectional data from Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean. The sample comprised 2,143 non-institutionalized elderly aged 60 years and older living in the urban area of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Linear regression models estimated the effect of socioeconomic status indicators (years of schooling completed, occupation and purchasing power) on each one of the following health indicators: depression, self-rated health, morbidity and memory capacity. A 5% significance level was set. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of years of education and purchasing power on self-rated health and memory capacity when controlled for the variables number of diseases during childhood, bed rest for at least a month due to health problems during childhood, self-rated health during childhood, living arrangements, sex, age, marital status, category of health insurance, intake of medicines. Only purchasing power had an effect on depression. Despite the bivariate association between socioeconomic status indicators and number of diseases (morbidity), this effect was no longer seen after including the controls in the model. CONCLUSIONS: The study results confirm the association between socioeconomic status indicators and health among Brazilian elderly, but only for some dimensions of socioeconomic status and certain health outcomes

Cross-sectional study · Depression (economics) · Environmental health · Marital status · Population · Purchasing power · Socioeconomic status · Aging, Health, and Disability · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, Nursing, Elderly Care · Medicine · Gerontology