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Social inequalities in the prevalence of indicators of active aging in the Brazilian population: National Health Survey, 2013

ABSTRACT:

Objective:

To analyze social inequalities in the prevalence of indicators of active aging in the Brazilian older adult population.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 11,177 older adults who participated in the Brazilian National Health Survey in 2013. We estimated the prevalence of five domains of active aging (social activities, civic engagement, leisure-time physical activity, paid work, and volunteer work) according to gender, ethnicity, schooling, income, and private health insurance. Prevalence ratios and confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression.

Results:

The percentage of involvement in organized social activities, civic engagement, and physical activity was 25.1, 12.4, and 13.1%, respectively. Regarding work, 20.7% of the sample had a paid job, and 9.7% participated in volunteer work. Women had a higher prevalence of participation in organized social activities and volunteer work; while civic engagement and paid work were more frequent among men. White people were more likely to participate in social activities, volunteer work, and leisure-time physical activity, explained by their schooling. The strata with a higher level of schooling, income, and who had private health insurance showed a greater incidence of participation in all activities studied.

Conclusion:

The five activities analyzed are challenging for the proposed policy of active aging, as they are marked by considerable social inequality.

Keywords:
Social inequality; Health status disparities; Aging; Aged

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