Evaluating Health Inequality in Five Caribbean Basin Countries Using EQ-5D-5L

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized instrument for measuring health outcomes and health inequalities.
• National surveys are crucial for collecting population-level health data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish baseline health inequality values in five Caribbean Basin countries using the EQ-5D-5L.
• To assess the feasibility of integrating the EQ-5D-5L into national surveys for health inequality monitoring.

Main Methods:

• The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire was administered to adult populations in Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Demographic and health outcome data were analyzed using generalized linear models and ordered logit models.
• The Kakwani index was employed to quantify health inequality within each country.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 11,284 respondents revealed varying patterns of health inequality across the five nations.
• Age and gender emerged as the primary determinants of health inequality.
• Self-care limitations were significant in Belize, while pain/discomfort was a major factor in the other four countries.

Conclusions:

• The EQ-5D-5L is a practical tool for integration into national surveys to measure health inequality.
• The generated baseline values provide a benchmark for future health inequality assessments in the region.
• These findings can inform policy initiatives targeting specific demographic groups to reduce health disparities.