Determinants of gender differences in health among the elderly in Latin America
Trujillo, A.J.; Mroz, T.A.; Piras, C.; Vernon, J.A.; Angeles, G.
World Health and Population 11(3): 24-43
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1718-3340 PMID: 20357557 Document Number: 566207
This paper identifies the main gender differences in health and socio-economic characteristics of the elderly in four Latin American cities. Using locally weighted regressions as well as a flexible model specification that treats age non-parametrically, we investigate whether these unadjusted gender gaps in health are due to gender differences in the distribution of age and other explanatory variables. Interestingly, for all cities, the analyses show a gender gap in health in favour of males at each age. The gaps are larger when one uses functional impairment in mobility and personal self-care as indicators of an individual's health instead of self-reported health. Furthermore, controlling for demographic characteristics, baseline health and the availability of family support do little to change the disadvantage for women in measured health outcomes. Controlling for socio-economic variables does, however, reduce most of the gender differences in health.