Estructura social y desigualdades en salud

Resumen

The results of the last National Survey of Health, carried out in 1997, are analised in this article with a double objective. First of all, to consider the differences in the course of the decade the results of this survey are compared with those of that published in 1987. Secondly, to revise the social inequalities studying different indicators of health (perceived morbidity, limitation of the activities, behaviours and habits related with the health or access and use of the sanitary services), taking into account sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, educational level, income, economic activity or habitat. In spite of the important advances in social and sanitary matter in our country, we may conclude that social inequalities are still found. Gender, education and income introduce great differences in the levels of health as well as in the use and access to certain sanitary services.