Abstract
Objectives
Self-rated health can be influenced by several characteristics of the social environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between self-rated health and self-assessed social class in Slovenian adult population.
Methods
The study was based on the Countrywide Integrated Non-communicable Diseases Intervention Health Monitor database. During 2004, 8,741/15,297 (57.1%) participants aged 25–64 years returned posted self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine unadjusted and adjusted estimates of association between poor self-rated health and self-assessed social class.
Results
Poor self-rated health was reported by 9.6% of participants with a decrease from lower to upper-middle/upper self-assessed social class (35.9 vs. 3.7%). Logistic regression showed significant association between self-rated health and all self-assessed social classes. In an adjusted model, poor self-rated health remained associated with self-assessed social class (odds ratio for lower vs. upper-middle/upper self-assessed social class 4.23, 95% confidence interval 2.46–7.25; P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Our study confirmed differences in the prevalence of poor self-rated health across self-assessed social classes. Participants from lower self-assessed social class reported poor self-rated health most often and should comprise the focus of multisectoral interventions.
Zusammenfassung
Fragestellung
Der selbst-beschriebene Gesundheitszustand kann durch verschiedenartige soziale Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Zusammenhang zwischen selbst-beschriebenem Gesundheitszustand und selbst-definierter sozialer Klasse in einer Population slowenischer Erwachsener zu beschreiben.
Methoden
Die Studie verwendete die Countrywide Integrated Non-communicable Diseases Intervention Health Monitor Datenbank. Im Jahr 2004 schickten 8741/15297 (57.1%) Teilnehmern im Alter von 25–64 Jahren einen per Post versendeten Fragebogen zurück. Es wurden nichtadjustierte und adjustierte sowie logistische Regressionsmodelle für die Analyse des Zusammenhangs von schlechtem selbst-beschriebenem Gesundheitszustand und selbst-definierter sozialer Klasse verwendet.
Ergebnisse
Ein schlechter selbst-beschriebener Gesundheitszustand wurde von 9.6% der Teilnehmer berichtet, wobei sich ein Abfall von 35.9% bei niedrigerer bis 3.7% bei mittlerer/höherer selbst-definierter sozialer Klasse zeigte. In logistischen Regressionsmodellen waren selbst-beschriebene Gesundheit und alle selbst-definierten sozialen Klassen miteinander assoziiert. Ein adjustiertes Model zeigte, dass schlechterer selbst-bechriebener Gesundheitszustand mit der selbst-definierten sozialen Klasse assoziiert war (OR für niedrigere vs. mittlere/höhere selbst-definierten soziale Klasse 4.23, 95% CI 2.46–7.25; P < 0.001).
Schlussfolgerungen
Unsere Studie bestätigt das Vorhandensein von deutlichen Unterschieden hinsichtlich der Prävalenz von schlechtem selbst-beschriebenem Gesundheitszustand innerhalb verschiedener selbst-definierter sozialer Klassen. Teilnehmer aus der niedrigeren selbst-definierten sozialen Klasse hatten die größte Prävalenz des schlechteren selbst-beschriebenen Gesundheitszustandes und sollten in den Mittelpunkt multisektorischer Interventionsprogramme gerückt werden.
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Acknowledgments
The study is a part of a joint project of Chair of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana and CINDI Slovenia. It was supported financially by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia (Applied Research Project L3-3128-0381).
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Farkas, J., Pahor, M. & Zaletel-Kragelj, L. Self-rated health in different social classes of Slovenian adult population: nationwide cross-sectional study. Int J Public Health 56, 45–54 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0103-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0103-1