title: Gender differences in self-reported morbidity: evidence from a population-based study in southern Brazil.
abstract: This paper aims to assess variations in self-reported morbidity between men and women using six different measures of reported illness. The cross-sectional study was conducted in the municipality of Rio Grande, southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, and morbidity data were collected from a probabilistic sample of 1,260 persons aged 15 years or over, using a specific questionnaire. Statistical analysis included a multivariate Poisson regression analysis. Prevalence Ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. After adjusting for some confounding variables (age, race, unemployment, marital status, income, social class, and education), women showed greater risk of any symptom (PR = 3.21; 95%CI: 2.71-3.83), three or more symptoms (PR = 4.22; 95%CI: 2.97-5.98), potentially serious symptoms (PR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.31-2.34), poor/fair health (PR = 1.78; 95%CI: 1.37-2.32), and minor psychiatric disorders (PR = 1.76; 95%CI: 1.31-2.37). The study revealed dissimilarity in self-reported morbidity between men and women in southern Brazil, but with different degrees depending on type of morbidity. This excess can be explained by gender difference in health-seeking behavior for perceiving or reporting health problems.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Fundacao Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brasil. rmend@vetorial.net
authors.forename: Raúl A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Sassi
authors.forename: Jorge U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Béria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors