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[Health, work, and aging in Brazil]
Luana Giatti1, Sandhi M Barreto
1Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Centro de Pesquisas Ren Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-002, Brasil.
Cadernos De Saude Publica
|June 14, 2003
Summary
Many Brazilian seniors continue working, especially those who are younger, better educated, and wealthier. These working seniors report better health and fewer daily living difficulties, indicating health is key to remaining active in the workforce.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology of Work
Background:
- Brazil's population is aging rapidly, altering the workforce composition.
- Understanding health differences among working and non-working elderly is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine health differentials in elderly Brazilians based on their work status.
- To analyze these differentials considering socio-demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 2,886 males aged 65+ from the 1998 National Household Survey in ten Brazilian metropolitan areas.
- Statistical analysis using chi-square and logistic regression to estimate odds ratios.
Main Results:
- Over 25% of elderly men surveyed were still employed.
- Working elderly individuals were younger, more educated, and had higher incomes.
- Working seniors reported fewer chronic diseases and less difficulty with daily activities compared to non-working peers.
- No significant differences in health service utilization were observed between working and non-working elderly.
Conclusions:
- Health status, particularly autonomy and physical mobility, are independent predictors of continued workforce participation among the elderly.
- Maintaining good health enables seniors to remain economically active.