Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in inequalities in mortality from infectious diseases and tuberculosis by educational level among men and women in Lithuania. The data on mortality from infectious diseases in the Lithuanian population aged more than 30 years for the years 1989 and 2001 gathered from the Department of Statistics and censuses were used for the analysis. The relative and slope indices of inequality were calculated. Mortality from infectious diseases and tuberculosis among persons with primary education was higher than that among persons with university education, and these inequalities were found to be increased in 2000-2002 as compare with 1988-1990 due to declining mortality among persons with university education and increasing mortality among less educated persons. Similar tendencies were observed while evaluating the inequalities in mortality from tuberculosis. In 1988- 1990, the relative indices of inequality for mortality from all infectious diseases and tuberculosis among men were 9 and 13, respectively. In 2000-2002, the relative indices of inequality increased significantly to 16.5 and 28.8, respectively. Inequalities in mortality from abovementioned causes for women with different educational levels were lower than those for men. The slope indices of inequality for mortality from infectious diseases among men with different educational levels were considerably higher than among their female counterparts, and in 2000-2002, they were greater compared with 1988-1990. While implementing tuberculosis prevention and control program and planning prevention and control measures, greater attention should be paid to less educated Lithuanian population at highest risk of this disease.
Highlights
Differences in mortality among people with different educational levels are one of the key parameters of health, social, and economic inequalities [1]
Mortality from infectious diseases and tuberculosis among persons with primary education was higher than that among persons with university education, and these inequalities were found to be increased in 2000–2002 as compare with 1988–1990 due to declining mortality among persons with university education and increasing mortality among less educated persons
While implementing tuberculosis prevention and control program and planning prevention and control measures, greater attention should be paid to less educated Lithuanian population at highest risk of this disease
Summary
Differences in mortality among people with different educational levels are one of the key parameters of health, social, and economic inequalities [1]. In Lithuania, education is considered as one of the most important factors differentiating the prevalence of social inequality and poverty [2]. Higher educational level is associated with lower mortality indices and better health of the population. In Lithuania, as in other countries over the world, mortality rates in people with the lowest educational levels are highest [3]. Earlier studies showed that differences in mortality among people with different education levels in Lithuania were considerable even at the end of the 1980s, and during the period of socioeconomic transition, differences increased even more [4, 5]. Death from infectious diseases in Lithuania ranked eight in 1989, but by 2001 had moved up to sixth place among other death causes and increased from 8.76 to 13.26 cases per 100 000 population [6]
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