The association of demographic and socioeconomic determinants and self-perceived health

Abstract

Inequalities in health are evident in the whole world and present an important and consistent public health issue. The highest contribution to the inequality in heath is attributable to the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of health. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between the demographic (gender, age, marital status and type of settlement) and socioeconomic determinants of health (education and Wealth Index), and self-perceived health. In the study the data from 2006 National Health Survey of the population of Serbia were used. The interview involved 14,522 adults aged >20 years. The association between the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of health as independent variables, and self-perceived health as dependent variable were examined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The minimum level of significance was p < 0.05. According to our study, the elderly and females significantly more often perceived their health as poor. Respondents living in rural settings were less likely to perceive their health as poor compared to those living in urban settings (odds ratio was 0.82 in males and 0.75 in females). Males with low education were three times more likely to perceive their health as poor (odds ratio was 3.46) in relation to males with high education. This association was more pronounced in females (odds ratio was 5.37). The same pattern was observed for Wealth Index. This study showed that demographic and socioeconomic inequalities in self-perceived health are present in Serbia. Comprehensive public health policies and interventions for reducing these inequalities are urgently needed with the primarily focus on the most disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.