Socioeconomic differences in self-rated health among women: a comparison of St. Petersburg to Estonia and Finland

International Journal for Equity in Health

Seppo Koskinen³  Olga Kuznetsova¹  Made Laanpere²  Elina Haavio-Mannila⁴  Elina Hemminki³  Elena Regushevskaya³  Tommi Härkänen³  Tatiana Dubikaytis¹ 

[1] St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Studies or North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, 193015 Kirochnaja ul. 41, St. Petersburg, Russia;Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tartu, L. Puusepa 8, Tartu 50406, Estonia;The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland;Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Box 24, Helsinki 00014, Finland

关键词: Women;    Russia;    Health disparities;    Health behaviour;    Income;    Education;    Health status;   

Others  :  802304
DOI  :  10.1186/1475-9276-13-39

 received in 2013-10-10, accepted in 2014-05-06,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Introduction

Social determinants of health have not been intensively studied in Russia, even though the health divide has been clearly demonstrated by an increased mortality rate among those with low education. A comparative analysis of social health determinants in countries with different historical and economic backgrounds may provide useful evidence for addressing health inequalities. We aimed to assess socioeconomic determinants of self-rated health in St. Petersburg as compared to Estonia and Finland.

Methods

Data for women aged 18–44 were extracted from existing population-based surveys and analysed. In St. Petersburg the data were originally collected in 2003 (response rate 68%), in Estonia in 2004–2005 (54%), and in Finland in 2000–2001 (86%). The study samples comprised 865 women in St. Petersburg, 2141 in Estonia and 1897 in Finland.

Results

Self-rated health was much poorer in St. Petersburg than in Estonia or Finland. High education was negatively associated with poor self-rated health in all the studied populations; it was (partially) mediated via health behaviour and limiting long-term illness only in Estonia and Finland, but not in St. Petersburg. High personal income and employment did not associate with poor self-rated health among St. Petersburg women, as it did in Estonia and Finland. In St. Petersburg housewives rather than employed women had better self-rated health, unlike the two other areas.

Conclusion

Women’s self-rated health in St. Petersburg varied similarly by education but differently by income and employment as compared to Estonia and Finland. Education is likely the most meaningful dimension of women’s socioeconomic position in St. Petersburg. More research is needed to further clarify the pathways between socioeconomic position and health in Russia.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Dubikaytis et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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