OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution and determinants of income-related inequalities in the Brazilian health system between 1998 and 2008. METHODS: Data from the National Household Sampling Surveys of 1998, 2003, and 2008 were used to analyze inequalities in health and health care. Health was measured by self-reported health status, physical limitations, and chronic illness. Hospitalization and physician and dentist visits were proxies for health care utilization. Income was a proxy for socioeconomic status. Concentration indices were calculated before and after standardization for all dependent variables. Decomposition analysis was used to identify the main determinants of inequality in health care utilization. RESULTS: In all three periods analyzed, the poor reported worse health status, while the wealthy reported more chronic diseases; health care utilization was pro-rich for medical and dental services. Yet, income-related inequality in health care utilization has been declining. Private health insurance, education, and income are the major contributors to the inequalities identified. CONCLUSIONS: Income-related inequality in the use of medical and dental health care is gradually declining in Brazil. The decline is associated with implementation of pro-equity policies and programs, such as the Community Health Agents Program and the Family Health Program.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution and determinants of income-related inequalities in the Brazilian health system between 1998 and 2008. METHODS: Data from the National Household Sampling Surveys of 1998, 2003, and 2008 were used to analyze inequalities in health and health care. Health was measured by self-reported health status, physical limitations, and chronic illness. Hospitalization and physician and dentist visits were proxies for health care utilization. Income was a proxy for socioeconomic status. Concentration indices were calculated before and after standardization for all dependent variables. Decomposition analysis was used to identify the main determinants of inequality in health care utilization. RESULTS: In all three periods analyzed, the poor reported worse health status, while the wealthy reported more chronic diseases; health care utilization was pro-rich for medical and dental services. Yet, income-related inequality in health care utilization has been declining. Private health insurance, education, and income are the major contributors to the inequalities identified. CONCLUSIONS: Income-related inequality in the use of medical and dental health care is gradually declining in Brazil. The decline is associated with implementation of pro-equity policies and programs, such as the Community Health Agents Program and the Family Health Program.
Authors: Renata de Miranda Menezes; Mônica Viegas Andrade; Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza Noronha; Paul Kind Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2015-04-21 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Aline Veroneze de Mello; Flávia Mori Sarti; Jaqueline Lopes Pereira; Moisés Goldbaum; Chester Luiz Galvão Cesar; Maria Cecilia Goi Porto Alves; Regina Mara Fisberg Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2018-06-07
Authors: Anderson Moreira Aristides Dos Santos; Julian Perelman; Paulo de Andrade Jacinto; Cesar Augusto Oviedo Tejada; Aluísio J D Barros; Andréa D Bertoldi; Alicia Matijasevich; Iná S Santos Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2019-02-04 Impact factor: 5.379
Authors: Júlia Alves Menezes; Ana Paula Madureira; Rhavena Barbosa Dos Santos; Isabela de Brito Duval; Pedro Regoto; Carina Margonari; Martha Macêdo de Lima Barata; Ulisses Confalonieri Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Irene Garcia-Subirats; Ingrid Vargas; Amparo Susana Mogollón-Pérez; Pierre De Paepe; Maria Rejane Ferreira da Silva; Jean Pierre Unger; Carme Borrell; Maria Luisa Vázquez Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2014-01-31