Household income and health status in children and adolescents in Britain

Emerson, Eric and Graham, Hilary and Hatton, Chris (2006) Household income and health status in children and adolescents in Britain. European Journal of Public Health, 16 (4). pp. 354-360. ISSN 1464-360X

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Abstract

Background: Mortality, health, and well-being across the lifespan are associated with socioeconomic position (typically operationalised as occupational status). There is some evidence that adolescence represents a period of 'relative equalisation' of health inequalities. Our aim was to examine the association between inequalities in household income and health in childhood and adolescence. Methods: Cross-sectional survey using multistage stratified random sample of households in Britain. Information was collected on 10438 children aged 5-15 years. Results: Low levels of equivalised household income was associated with poorer health for 13 out of the 22 indicators examined (odds ratio P < 0.05 for >= 1 income quintile). Multivariate analyses controlling for child characteristics, parental socioeconomic status and household composition indicated that low levels of equivalised household income increased the odds of poor health for 9 out of the 22 indicators examined. There was little evidence of any systematic differences in the extent of health inequalities across age groups (5-10 and 11-15 years). Conclusion: Household income is related to a range of health outcomes for children and adolescents, even when other indicators of socioeconomic status are taken into account. We found little evidence that adolescence represents a period of relative equalisation of health inequalities.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
European Journal of Public Health
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/health
Subjects:
?? adolescentschildrendisabilityhealth inequalitiessocioeconomic-statussocial-classinequalitiespovertyyouthequalizationadulthoodchildhoodmortalityscotlandhealthpublic health, environmental and occupational healthr medicine (general) ??
ID Code:
8241
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
16 Apr 2008 12:33
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 11:30