title: Measurement of socio-economic status in families of children with cancer in Guatemala.
abstract: The prospects for survival of children in low and middle income countries are linked to their families socio-economic status (SES), of which income is only one component. Developing a comprehensive measure of SES is required. Informed by clinical experience, a 15-item instrument was designed in Guatemala to categorize SES by five levels in each item. Almost 75% of families attending the Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica were in the lowest three of six categories, providing a framework for stratified financial and nutritional support. The measure of SES offers an opportunity for examining associations with health outcomes throughout Latin America.
authors.affiliation: National Pediatric Oncology Unit (Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica), Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Pernillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antillon
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D012923:Social Class
keywords: cancer; children; measurement; socio-economic status