Is financial hardship associated with reduced health in disability? The case of spinal cord injury in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate socioeconomic inequalities in a comprehensive set of health indicators among persons with spinal cord injury in a wealthy country, Switzerland.

Methods

Observational cross-sectional data from 1549 participants of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI), aged over 16 years, and living in Switzerland were analyzed. Socioeconomic circumstances were operationalized by years of formal education, net equivalent household income and financial hardship. Health indicators including secondary conditions, comorbidities, pain, mental health, participation and quality of life were used as outcomes. Associations between socioeconomic circumstances and health indicators were evaluated using ordinal regressions.

Results

Financial hardship was consi

SUBMITTER: Fekete C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3938582 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature