title: Gender differences in predictors of self-rated health among older adults in Brazil and Chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The determinants of self-rated health (SRH) have been widely investigated to explain social differences and gender differences in health. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in predictors of SRH among Brazilian and Chilean older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used two samples of older people: 2052 Brazilian community-dwelling participants (1226 women and 862 men) and 1301 Chilean community-dwelling participants (855 women and 446 men). Sequential logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between SRH and potential predictors in a hierarchical model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 35.5% and 52.1% of individuals in Chile and Brazil, respectively, reported good SRH. There was a gradient association between good SRH and chronic diseases in both countries. Chilean men without chronic disease or with one had a higher chance of good SRH, compared to two or more diseases. For Brazilian men, no or one chronic disease was associated with good SRH. For women, the set of independent predictors for good SRH included no chronic diseases or one chronic disease, and no activities of daily living limitation. For men, the set also included instrumental activities limitation. For Brazilian adults of both genders, depression demonstrated the strongest independent association with good SRH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that when examining gender differences in predictors of SRH, the similarities are greater than the differences between Brazilian and Chilean older adults. In both countries, physical health was the most important predictor of SRH. In addition, absence of depression was the strongest predictor of good health in older Brazilian adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil. campos.acv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Viana
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Unidad Nutrición, Salud Pública y Envejecimiento Saludable, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524 Macul, Santiago, 138-11, Chile. calbala@uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albala
authors.affiliation: Unidad Nutrición, Salud Pública y Envejecimiento Saludable, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524 Macul, Santiago, 138-11, Chile. llera@inta.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lera
authors.affiliation: Unidad Nutrición, Salud Pública y Envejecimiento Saludable, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524 Macul, Santiago, 138-11, Chile. hsanchez@inta.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil. vargasnt@task.com.br.
authors.forename: Andréa Maria Duarte
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil. efigeniaf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Efigênia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferreira e Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution