Composition of the Health Inequality Index analyzed from the inequalities in mortality and socioeconomic conditions in a Brazilian state capital.

Abstract

The issue of social inequalities is a subject of recurrent studies and remains relevant due to the growing trend of these inequalities over the years. This study proposes the creation of the Health Inequality Index (HII) composed of health indicators - Mean life span and Mean Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) - and socioeconomic indicators of income, schooling, and population living in poverty in the city of Natal - the State Capital of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Therefore, a probabilistic linkage was made between mortality and socioeconomic databases in order to capture the census tracts of households with death records from 2007 to 2013. The authors used the Principal Component Factor Analysis to calculate the index. The Health Inequality Index showed areas with worse socioeconomic and health conditions located in the suburban areas of the city, with differences between and within the districts. The difference in the mean life span between the districts of Natal arrives at 25 years, and the worst district has mortality rates comparable to poor African countries. Public policymakers can use the index to prioritize actions aimed at reducing or eliminating health inequalities.