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Does socioeconomic inequality in health persist among older people living in resource-poor urban slums?

Does socioeconomic inequality in health persist among older people living in resource-poor urban slums?
Does socioeconomic inequality in health persist among older people living in resource-poor urban slums?
Using self-reported health that assesses functionality or disability status, this paper investigates whether there are any differences in health status among older people living in a deprived area of Nairobi, Kenya. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 2,037 men and women aged 50 years and older are used to examine the association between socioeconomic position and self-reported health status across 6 health domains. Education, occupation, a wealth index, and main source of livelihood are used to assess the presence of a socioeconomic gradient in health. All the indicators showed the expected negative association with health across some, but not all, of the disability domains. Nonetheless, differences based on occupation, the most commonly used indicators to examine health inequalities, were not statistically significant. Primary level of education was a significant factor for women but not for men; conversely, wealth status was associated with lower disability for both men and women. Older people dependent on their own sources of livelihood were also less likely to report a disability. The results suggest the need for further research to identify an appropriate socioeconomic classification that is sensitive in identifying poverty and deprivation among older people living in slums.
health inequality, older people, urban slums, socioeconomic position
381-400
Falkingham, Jane C.
8df36615-1547-4a6d-ad55-aa9496e85519
Chepngeno-Langat, Gloria
4a386fed-03ca-4791-827a-ec7a7950530c
Kyobutungi, Catherine
dc9572b9-0eb2-4688-9101-d73ce9ebcd0a
Ezeh, Alex
a931de5a-5840-4c76-a65c-679f55d22564
Evandrou, Maria
cd2210ea-9625-44d7-b0f4-fc0721a25d28
Falkingham, Jane C.
8df36615-1547-4a6d-ad55-aa9496e85519
Chepngeno-Langat, Gloria
4a386fed-03ca-4791-827a-ec7a7950530c
Kyobutungi, Catherine
dc9572b9-0eb2-4688-9101-d73ce9ebcd0a
Ezeh, Alex
a931de5a-5840-4c76-a65c-679f55d22564
Evandrou, Maria
cd2210ea-9625-44d7-b0f4-fc0721a25d28

Falkingham, Jane C., Chepngeno-Langat, Gloria, Kyobutungi, Catherine, Ezeh, Alex and Evandrou, Maria (2011) Does socioeconomic inequality in health persist among older people living in resource-poor urban slums? [in special issue: Urbanization, Poverty, and Health Dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from Nairobi Slum Settlements] Journal of Urban Health, 88 (2), 381-400. (doi:10.1007/s11524-011-9559-4).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Using self-reported health that assesses functionality or disability status, this paper investigates whether there are any differences in health status among older people living in a deprived area of Nairobi, Kenya. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 2,037 men and women aged 50 years and older are used to examine the association between socioeconomic position and self-reported health status across 6 health domains. Education, occupation, a wealth index, and main source of livelihood are used to assess the presence of a socioeconomic gradient in health. All the indicators showed the expected negative association with health across some, but not all, of the disability domains. Nonetheless, differences based on occupation, the most commonly used indicators to examine health inequalities, were not statistically significant. Primary level of education was a significant factor for women but not for men; conversely, wealth status was associated with lower disability for both men and women. Older people dependent on their own sources of livelihood were also less likely to report a disability. The results suggest the need for further research to identify an appropriate socioeconomic classification that is sensitive in identifying poverty and deprivation among older people living in slums.

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More information

Published date: June 2011
Keywords: health inequality, older people, urban slums, socioeconomic position

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 181995
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/181995
PURE UUID: e058c4c5-2e02-4546-9608-e9c5be37c519
ORCID for Jane C. Falkingham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7135-5875
ORCID for Gloria Chepngeno-Langat: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6782-363X
ORCID for Maria Evandrou: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2115-9358

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Date deposited: 24 Apr 2011 17:07
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:24

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Contributors

Author: Catherine Kyobutungi
Author: Alex Ezeh
Author: Maria Evandrou ORCID iD

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