[Self-rated health and physical disabilities due to health (corrected) problems].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate self-rated health and physical disabilities due to health problems.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study carried out in 18 Brazilian cities between 2002 and 2005. There were interviewed 26,424 residents (aged 15 years or more) of households selected by a two-stage probabilistic sampling. Percentages and confidence intervals were calculated considering the study design effects.


RESULTS
Poorer self-rated health status and physical disabilities were found among women, those aged 50 years old or more and those with lower education. In addition, higher percentages of fair or poor self-rated health were found in cities in Northern and Northeastern Brazil compared to those in Southern and Southeastern Brazil.


CONCLUSIONS
Poorer health conditions in the North/Northeast compared to the South/Southeast regions reflect factors related to social inequalities, mainly lower education.
Souza
Mirian Carvalho de
MC
Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. miriancs@inca.gov.br
Otero
Ubirani Barros
UB
Almeida
Liz Maria de
LM
Turci
Silvana Rubano Barretto
SR
Figueiredo
Valeska Carvalho
VC
Lozana
José de Azevedo
Jde A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult