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The European Journal of Public Health 2001 11(2):225-226; doi:10.1093/eurpub/11.2.225
© 2001 by European Journal of Public Health
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SHORT REPORT

The widening social class gap of preventive health behaviours in Spain

CARLOS ALVAREZ-DARDET1, CRISTINA MONTAHUD1 and MARIA TERESA RUIZ1

1Department of Public Health, University of Alicante Spain

Correspondence: Carios Alvarez-Dardet, Departmento de Salud Publica, Edficio de Ciendas Sociales, Campus de San Vicente, Universidad de Alicante, Apdo Corres 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain, tel +34 96 v5903918, fax +34 96 59049964, carios.alvarez{at}ua.es

As a way of forecasting future evolution of inequalities in disease burden and mortality, trends in preventive health behaviours by social class were examined. Using the Spanish National Hearth Survey from 1987 to 1997 the evolution of the Health Practices Index (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical exercise, sleep hours and the Quetelet index) is described for the Spanish non-institutionalised adult population. In the last 10 years the disadvantage population of Spain (social class groups IV and V) has not opted for healthier behavioural choices. On the contrary the Health Practices Index figures have worsened during the study period. Conversely, the more affluent groups (social class groups I, II and III) have exhibited a net gain in the index. Due to this, an increase in the existing gap in health inequalities in Spain in terms of morbidity and mortality can be forecast for the near future. As time trends of a summary indicator of preventive health behaviours by social class have not been described in other countries, a replication of this study in different cultural, social and economic milieus could produce valuable information.

Keywords: inequalities in health, preventive health behaviours


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