Introduction. 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. Objective. The aim of this study
was to analyze 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. Methods. 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. Results. 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. Conclusion. 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.
Changes in socioeconomic determinants of health in a copper mine development area, northwestern Zambia
