Skin color, social inequalities and health in older adults: an analysis based on the SABE survey in Colombia.

Skin color, social inequalities and health in older adults: an analysis based on the SABE survey in Colombia. Cad Saude Publica. 2020;36(10):e00121419 Authors: Mendez F, Urrea-Giraldo F, Ortega D Abstract Our study is based on the Colombia SABE survey (Health, Well-Being, and Aging Study), which included 23,694 individuals aged 60+ in urban and rural areas of the country. The analysis addresses adult self-perception of health status as a dependent variable and its relationships to ethnic/racial self-recognition and to interviewer-ascribed skin color as a phenotypic trait using a validated technique with a color palette. Social inequalities were determined based on the characterization of socioeconomic status, urban or rural residence, literacy, and the average years of education attained. Our study brought together socioeconomic factors, ethnic-racial self-recognition and skin color as factors of discrimination. Descriptive statistical tests and four adjusted logistic models were developed, controlling by the sex and the age of the individuals. The findings show that adults in households with better socioeconomic conditions have a better self-perception of health. Regarding ethnic-racial self-recognition, Afro-descendant, black, and mulatto adults have less good health perception than white-mestizo adults and face the worst socioeconomic conditions. In summary, skin color and ethnic and racial self-recognition categories, together wi...
Source: Cadernos de Saude Publica - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Cad Saude Publica Source Type: research