Social inequalities in indicators of active aging: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Active aging is crucial for well-being in later life.
• Understanding socioeconomic disparities in activity participation is vital for targeted interventions.
• Brazil faces challenges in ensuring equitable access to resources for older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze inequalities in active aging indicators among older Brazilians.
• To investigate the influence of race/skin color, education, income, and health insurance on activity participation.
• To identify disparities in engagement with health-promoting activities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using data from the 2014/15 Campinas Health Survey.
• Inclusion of 986 older adults.
• Poisson regression analysis to estimate prevalence ratios for 11 activity domains.

Main Results:

• Similar social dimension participation between white and black older adults.
• Higher prevalence of work-related physical activity among black individuals (14.1%) vs. white (8.2%).
• Higher internet use prevalence in white individuals (PR = 2.11).
• Increased participation in leisure physical activity, internet use, courses, and social activities (excluding religious services) among higher education, income, and insured groups.
• Older adults relying solely on public health services showed less participation in health-promoting activities.

Conclusions:

• Higher income and education levels are associated with greater engagement in activities promoting health and well-being.
• Significant disparities exist in active aging indicators based on socioeconomic status.
• Older adults' reliance on Brazil's public health system is substantial, with lower participation in beneficial activities among those exclusively using public services.