Original scientific paper
Health Inequalities: Social Stratification, Health and Health Care (I)
Miroslav Mastilica
; University of Zagreb
Abstract
This paper deals with effect of social stratification on health and health care. Differences in health status between social groups as the result of their position on stratification scale are considered as health inequalities. Results of the international studies which are reviewed in the first part of the paper show that health, i.e. health status measured by negative indicators such as mortality and morbidity rates as well as health behavior are unequally distributed between social classes. In general, members of higher social groups have better health status (longer life expectancy, lower mortality and morbidity rates, more positive health behavior) than those from the groups with lower socioeconomic status.
In the second part of the paper the first empirical evidence on social inequalities in health and health care in the Croatian population is shown. In the research carried out in the Zagreb area in 1990. the considerable inequalities were discovered in health status when measured by self-perceived general state of health, experience of symptoms, pain and worry about health. The social groups reported also significant differing in dental health. Social inequalities are shown when accessibility and utilization of health care services are analyzed. The inequalities are significant in primary health care and high discretionary dental care, while low discretion specialist and hospital services are rather equally distributed. Considerable inequalities were also discovered in preventive behavior. In general, the managers and professionals, groups with the highest socioeconomic status, have the best health status and health care indicators while the peasants and unskilled workers, groups with the lowest socioeconomic status, have the worst health and use health care services less than they need.
Keywords
social stratification; healthcare; health protection; international research; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
154895
URI
Publication date:
31.12.1993.
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