Health Inequalities of Intra-Family Expertise Accessibility: Evidence From China

Abstract

Objectives To investigate whether unequal exposure to health-related expertise of intra-family is the root of health inequality in China, and to explore the underlying mechanisms through which health-related expertise shapes health outcome. Methods In a representative sample of Chinese adults ages over 18 from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) (n = 3,047 respondents), we use multiple linear regression model and the two-stage least-squares model to analyze the correlation between health-related expertise of intra-family and self-rated health. Results The presence of a health professional (HP) in the family is associated with better self-rated health (SRH), and the effect is more important in rural areas than urban areas. An increased chance of exercising appears to explain a part of the association between HP and SRH. Discussions Health professionals doing for their family members would have the potential to make a substantial dent in population health and reduce health inequality. Future work will need to understand the patterns of intra-family expertise in health (and other) domains, and the potential replicability of this transmission by public policies.