title: [Gender development inequalities epidemiology in Spain (1990-2000)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender is an important health determinant for public health policies. This study describes the changes in gender development inequalities in Spain and its autonomous regions from 1990 to 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ecological study using the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Gender Development Index (GDI) was done. IDG both men and women was analysed according to indexes of education, income and life expectancy at birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the GDI has had an increase of 5,05% in the 90 s, 51,5% of the population was located above the global GDI of Spain in 1990, moreover this number decreased to 46,3% in 2000. Gender inequalities have been reduced both at national and regional levels. The regions with the lowest increase were Asturias (3.37%), Cantabria (3.68%) and Baleares Islands (3.71%). The regions with the highest increase were Madrid (6,46%) and Extremadura (6,75%). All the autonomous regions showed a number of GDI lower than the value of HDI. Both sexes achieved similar increase in life expectancy (Men: 5% and Women: 4%). An unequal variation was detected according to the autonomous region (Basque Country; Men: 7% and Women: 3%; Madrid; Men:8% and Women:5%). Women have improved their educational level in comparison to men (Men: 3% and Women: 6%). In the 90 s, men obtained more income than women, but women improved their situation three times more than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inequalities in Human Development analysed by gender have been reduced in the 90 s in Spain. However, the improvement of education, income and life expectancy occurred only in some autonomous regions. This situation shows the differences among Spanish autonomous regions.
authors: Area de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España. mercedes.carrasco@ua.es
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Carrasco-Portiño
authors: María Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Ruiz-Cantero
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Gil-González
authors: Carlos Alvarez-Dardet
authors: CA
authors: Díaz
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Torrubiano-Domínguez
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology