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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Health inequalities by socioeconomic characteristics in Spain: the economic crisis effect

Authors: Clara Barroso, Ignacio Abásolo, José J. Cáceres

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

An economic crisis can widen health inequalities between individuals. The aim of this paper is to explore differences in the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on Spaniards’ self-assessed health status, depending on the Spanish economic situation.

Methods

Data from the 2006–2007 and 2011–2012 National Health Surveys were used and binary logit and probit models were estimated to approximate the effects of socioeconomic characteristics on the likelihood to report good health.

Results

The difference between high and low education levels leads to differences in the likelihood to report good health of 16.00–16.25 and 18.15–18.22 percentage points in 2006–07 and 2011–12, respectively. In these two periods, the difference between employees and unemployed is 5.24–5.40 and 4.60–4.90 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, the difference between people who live in households with better socioeconomic conditions and those who are in worse situation reaches 5.37–5.46 and 3.63–3.74 percentage points for the same periods, respectively.

Conclusions

The magnitude of the contribution of socioeconomic characteristics to health inequalities changes with the economic cycle; but this effect is different depending on the socioeconomic characteristics indicator that is being measured. In recessive periods, health inequalities due to education level increase, but those linked to individual professional status and household living conditions are attenuated. When the joint effects of individuals’ characteristics are considered, the economic crisis brings about a slight increase in the inequalities in the probability of reporting good health between the two extreme profiles of individuals. The design of public policies aimed at preventing any worsening of health inequalities during recession periods should take into account these differential effects of socioeconomic characteristics indicators on health inequalities.
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Metadata
Title
Health inequalities by socioeconomic characteristics in Spain: the economic crisis effect
Authors
Clara Barroso
Ignacio Abásolo
José J. Cáceres
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0346-4

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