Employment status and health outcomes among Brazilian adults

Employment is a key determinant of health disparity. We examined gender-specific relationships between employment status and health outcomes among Brazilian adults.

Nationally representative data (n=463 223) came from the 2003 and 2008 Brazilian National Household Surveys. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate gender-specific associations between employment status and health outcomes.

Compared with employed counterparts, the odds of depression were higher among unemployed men (AOR 2.04; 95% CI 1.80-2.32) and women (AOR 1.60; 95% CI 1.49-1.72). Economically inactive men were more likely to report depression than their employed counterparts (AOR 3.33; 95% CI 3.08-3.59), whereas the effect was smaller for economically inactive women (AOR 2.24; 95% CI 1.19-1.29). Compared with their employed counterparts, the odds of functional limitation were higher among economically inactive men (AOR 6.61; 95% CI 5.90-7.41) and women (AOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.83-2.08). The odds of very poor or poor self-rated health were higher among economically inactive men (AOR 4.58; 95% CI 4.28-4.90) and women (AOR 1.53; 95% CI 1.44-1.62) than among employed counterparts. Unemployed men were more likely to report poor health compared with those employed (AOR 1.26; 95% CI 1.09-1.46); whereas no difference in very poor or poor self-rated health was found between employed and unemployed women.

Employment was associated with better health outcomes among Brazilian adults. Policies should also facilitate access to preventive services and adequate treatment to those inactive or unemployed.