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. 2016 Apr 21;26(2):147-56.
doi: 10.18865/ed.26.2.147.

Ethnicity and Health in Colombia: What Do Self-Perceived Health Indicators Tell Us?

Andrés A Agudelo-Suárez  1 , Eliana Martínez-Herrera  2 , Adriana Posada-López  1 , Anderson Rocha-Buelvas  3
Affiliations

Ethnicity and Health in Colombia: What Do Self-Perceived Health Indicators Tell Us?

Andrés A Agudelo-Suárez et al. Ethn Dis. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare self-perceived health indicators between ethnic groups in Colombia.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with data from the 2007 National Public Health Survey (ENSP-2007). Data from 57,617 people ≥18 years were used. Variables included: belonging to an ethnic group (exposure); self-rated health; mental health problems, injuries for accidents/violence (outcomes); sex, age, education level and occupation (explicative/control). A descriptive study was carried out of the explicative variables, and the prevalence of the outcomes was calculated according to ethnicity, education level and occupation. The association between the exposure variable and the outcomes was estimated by means of adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI using logistic regression. Analyses were conducted separately for men and women.

Results: The prevalence of outcomes was higher in people reporting to belong to an ethnic group and differences were found by sex, ethnic groups and health outcomes. Women from the Palenquero group were more likely to report poor self-rated health (aOR 7.04; 95%CI 2.50-19.88) and injuries from accidents/violence (aOR 7.99; 95%CI 2.89-22.07). Indigenous men were more likely to report mental health problems (aOR 1.75; 95%CI 1.41-2.17). Gradients according to ethnicity, education, occupation and sex were found.

Conclusions: Minority ethnic groups are vulnerable to reporting poor health outcomes. Political actions are required to diminish health inequalities in these groups.

Keywords: Ethnic Groups; Health Disparities; Health Surveys.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Self-rated health poor, males, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Self-rated health poor, females, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Mental health problems yes, males, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Mental health problems yes, females, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 5.
Figure 5.. Injuries for accident and violence yes, males, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 6.
Figure 6.. Injuries for accident and violence yes, females, by education, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05
Figure 7.
Figure 7.. Self-rated health poor, males, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
Figure 8.
Figure 8.. Self-rated health poor, females, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
Figure 9.
Figure 9.. Mental health problems, males, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
Figure 10.
Figure 10.. Mental health problems, females, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
Figure 11.
Figure 11.. Injuries for accidents and violence, males, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
Figure 12.
Figure 12.. Injuries for accidents and violence, females, by employment group, Colombia, 2007
Values are weighted. Chi square for difference in proportions (The reference group is the number of people answering ethnicity no): a. P<.001; b. P<.05. Employment group: 1, employers; 2, worker or employee for the government; 3, worker or employee of companies; 4, self-employed professionals; 5, other self-employed workers; 6, semi-skilled/unskilled manual workers; 7, unpaid workers
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