Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) participant’s profile regarding self-rated health: a multiple correspondence analysis

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) - one of the most common health indicators used to verify health conditions - can be influenced by several types of socioeconomic conditions, thereby reflecting health inequalities. This study aimed to evaluate the participant profiles regarding the association between self-rated health and social and occupational characteristics of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: Cross-sectional design, including 11,305 individuals. Self-rated health was categorized as good, fair, and poor. The relationship between socio-demographic, psychosocial work environment, health-related variables, and self-rated health was analyzed by multiple correspondence analysis (stratified by age: up to 49 years old and 50 years old or more). RESULTS: For both age strata, group composition was influenced by socioeconomic conditions. Poor SRH was related to lower socioeconomic conditions, being women, black self-declared race/ethnicity, being non-married/non-united, low decision authority, low skill discretion, and obesity. CONCLUSION: To promote health, interventions should focus on reducing existing socioeconomic, race, and gender inequalities in Brazil.