Socioeconomic inequalities adversely affect health
Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of health for both sexes. As a general rule, women in high-income countries live longer and are less likely to suffer from ill-health than women in low-income countries. In high-income countries, death rates among children and younger women are very low and most deaths occur after the age of 60 years
In low-income countries the picture is quite different. The population is younger and death rates at young ages
are higher, with most deaths occurring among girls, adolescents and younger adult women.
In high-income countries, noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, dementias and cancers, predominate in the 10 leading causes of death, accounting for more than four
in every 10 female deaths. By contrast, in low-income countries, maternal and perinatal conditions and communicable diseases (e.g. lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases and
HIV/AIDS) are prominent and account for over 38% of total female deaths.
Poverty and low socioeconomic status are associated with worse health outcomes. Data
from 66 developing countries show that child mortality rates among the poorest 20% of
households are almost double those in the richest 20%.4 In both high-income and low-income
countries, levels of maternal mortality may be up to three times higher among disadvantaged
ethnic groups than among other women.12,13 There are similar differentials in terms of use of
health-care services. For instance, women in the poorest households are least likely to have a
skilled birth attendant with them during childbirth
Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of health for both sexes. As a general rule, women in high-income countries live longer and are less likely to suffer from ill-health than women in low-income countries. In high-income countries, death rates among children and younger women are very low and most deaths occur after the age of 60 years
In low-income countries the picture is quite different. The population is younger and death rates at young ages
are higher, with most deaths occurring among girls, adolescents and younger adult women.
In high-income countries, noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, dementias and cancers, predominate in the 10 leading causes of death, accounting for more than four
in every 10 female deaths. By contrast, in low-income countries, maternal and perinatal conditions and communicable diseases (e.g. lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases and
HIV/AIDS) are prominent and account for over 38% of total female deaths.
Poverty and low socioeconomic status are associated with worse health outcomes. Data
from 66 developing countries show that child mortality rates among the poorest 20% of
households are almost double those in the richest 20%.4 In both high-income and low-income
countries, levels of maternal mortality may be up to three times higher among disadvantaged
ethnic groups than among other women.12,13 There are similar differentials in terms of use of
health-care services. For instance, women in the poorest households are least likely to have a
skilled birth attendant with them during childbirth
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