Gender differences in self-reported morbidity: evidence from a population-based study in southern Brazil

Cadernos de Saúde Pública

Raúl A. Mendoza-sassi²  Jorge U. Béria¹ 

[1] ,Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Departamento de Medicina Interna Rio Grande,Brasil

关键词: Gender;    Patient Acceptance of Health Care;    Morbidity;    Gênero;    Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde;    Morbidade;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0102-311X2007000200010

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

This paper aims to assess variations in self-reported morbidity between men and women using six different measures of reported illness. The cross-sectional study was conducted in the municipality of Rio Grande, southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, and morbidity data were collected from a probabilistic sample of 1,260 persons aged 15 years or over, using a specific questionnaire. Statistical analysis included a multivariate Poisson regression analysis. Prevalence Ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. After adjusting for some confounding variables (age, race, unemployment, marital status, income, social class, and education), women showed greater risk of any symptom (PR = 3.21; 95%CI: 2.71-3.83), three or more symptoms (PR = 4.22; 95%CI: 2.97-5.98), potentially serious symptoms (PR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.31-2.34), poor/fair health (PR = 1.78; 95%CI: 1.37-2.32), and minor psychiatric disorders (PR = 1.76; 95%CI: 1.31-2.37). The study revealed dissimilarity in self-reported morbidity between men and women in southern Brazil, but with different degrees depending on type of morbidity. This excess can be explained by gender difference in health-seeking behavior for perceiving or reporting health problems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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