Employment status and health outcomes among Brazilian adults

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