[Health inequalities in Panama]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Socioeconomic status significantly impacts health outcomes and access to services.
• Understanding these inequalities is crucial for developing equitable health policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document socioeconomic inequalities in health and health services in Panama.
• To establish a baseline for monitoring the impact of health policies on equity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the 1997 Living Standards Measurement Survey, 1990 National Population Census, and 1996 birth registration data.
• Calculation of the relative index of inequality and concentration coefficient for various health indicators.

Main Results:

• Significant socioeconomic disparities were found, predominantly favoring wealthier individuals.
• Inequalities were observed in out-of-pocket health expenditure, access, utilization, quality of care, and health outcomes.
• Disparities ranged from those concentrated in the very poor to gradual advantages with increasing socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

• The findings provide a baseline for identifying and addressing health inequalities in Panama.
• Results will aid the government in developing targeted policies to reduce health disparities.
• The study establishes a benchmark for tracking changes in health equity over time.