title: "Healthy Men" and High Mortality: Contributions from a Population-Based Study for the Gender Paradox Discussion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inequalities between men and women in morbidity and mortality show a contrast, which has been called gender paradox. Most studies evaluating this paradox were conducted in high-income countries and, until now, few investigations have been performed in Brazil. This study aims to estimate the magnitude of inequalities between adult men and women in several dimensions: demographic and socioeconomic, health behaviors, morbidity, use of health services and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were obtained from population-based household survey carried out in Campinas (Campinas Health Survey 2008/09) corresponding to 957 people, and data from the Mortality Information System (MIS) between 2009 and 2011. Prevalences and prevalence ratios were analyzed in order to verify the differences between men and women regarding socioeconomic and demographic variables, health behaviors, morbidities and consultations in the last two weeks. Mortality rates and the ratio between coefficients considering the underlying causes of death were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women had a greater disadvantage in socioeconomic indicators, chronic diseases diagnosed by a health professional and referred health problems as well as make more use of health services, while men presented higher frequency of most unhealthy behaviors and excessive mortality for all causes investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings contribute to the discussion of gender paradox and demonstrate the need to employ health actions that consider the differences between men and women in the various health dimensions analyzed. The premature male mortality from preventable causes was outstanding, making clear the need for more effective prevention and health promotion directed to this segment of the population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tássia Fraga
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Canesqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult