[Inequality in Brazilian women's access to medicines for chronic diseases]

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of access to continuous prescription drugs for a group of chronic diseases and to investigate the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in access. The data are from the Brazilian National Demographic and Health Survey on Women and Children (2006), with a sample of 15,575 women 15 to 49 years of age. Among these women, 7,717 were diagnosed with a chronic disease that required acquiring medicine and were considered eligible for the study. The dependent variable was defined as the diagnosis of a chronic disease and the need to obtain medication for treatment. Multivariate analysis used Poisson regression. Higher access was associated with residence in a rural area, having one or two chronic diseases, and higher socioeconomic status. Prevalence of access to medication was high, but the analysis revealed socioeconomic inequality in access to medicines in favor of the wealthy, while identifying the most vulnerable groups as the poorest and those with more chronic diseases.