title: Social Inequalities on Selected Determinants of Active Aging and Health Status Indicators in a Large Brazilian City (2003-2010).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess trends in social inequalities among 2,624 elderly living in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in three domains of the World Health Organization's Active Aging model (physical environment, social determinants, use of health services) and health status indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from two representative household surveys conducted in 2003 and 2010. Social inequality was measured by the slope and the relative index of inequality. Educational level was used to define socioeconomic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements were observed in the prevalence rates of 7 out of 12 indicators. However, the social inequalities persisted through 10 out of 12 selected active aging and health status indicators, except for fear of falling on the sidewalks/crossing the streets and fear of being robbed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social inequalities persistence might be assigned to the continuity of unequal distribution of resources among groups with different educational levels.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil lusouzabraga@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Luciana de Souza
authors.initials: Lde S
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lima-Costa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cibele Comini
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: César
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macinko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001938:Brazil; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Brazil; active aging; epidemiology; social inequalities; urban health