Health inequality in the Russian Federation: An examination of the changes in concentration and achievement indices from 1994 to 2013

Abstract

BackgroundTo assess and quantify the magnitude of health inequalities ascribed to socioeconomic strata from 1994 to 2013 in the Russian Federation.MethodsA balanced sample of 1,496 adult individuals extracted from the 1994 wave of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) is followed for stated self-perceived health status until 2013. The socioeconomic strata (SES) index is constructed with a set of variables (adult equivalent household income, ownership of assets and living conditions) by applying principal component analysis (PCA). We use a regression-based concentration index to measure differences in self-perceived health status. Finally, we examine the degree of aversion to inequalities in self-perceived health status between the worse-off and the better-off with the achievement index.ResultsBy 2013, the mean standardized self-perceived health status has improved by 4.6 % compared to 1994. The absolute size of Concentration Index (CI) for non - standardized self-perceived health status is reduced by 44.27 % from 1994 to 2013. No systematic trend emerges in the evolution of CI for self-perceived health status of the Russians over the 19 year period. However, avoidable inequalities in self-perceived health status of the Russian population is reduced by almost 60 % over the two decades (1994–2013).ConclusionSES, as defined with objective indicators, shows little consistency in association with self-perceived health status in the Russian Federation. This study highlights the need for future research that considers the context of stated self-perceived health status in the realm of subjective socioeconomic status (SSS).

Health disparities in Russia at the regional and global scales

“…The reason for this discrepancy may be linked to intraregional inequality. Spatial inequalities in health have also been confirmed by previous studies [67,68,71,72]. There is no doubt that for countries as geographically expansive as Russia, inequality is determined not only by economic factors or healthcare costs, but also by climatic, ethnic and sociocultural diversity [73].…”

“…Shkolnikov et al (2019), identified the gaps between the observed and the Preston-expected life expectancy values (so called Preston-curve) for both Russia and Moscow [67]. Compared to countries with a similar income level, the main cause of this gap was due to mortality for external causes in the working-age population and cardiovascular disease at older ages [68]. Thus, mortality trends that have been identified in Russia for a long time, continue to be relevant even despite the progress in healthcare.…”

Examining Health Inequalities in Latvia: A Decade of Association between Socioeconomic Position and Perceived Health Status

“…A clear gradient exists in the effect of exposure to disadvantaged SEP on health; the extent of health risk increases with each additional level of exposure [ 35 ]. Using a long-run panel (1994–2013) from waves of Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey datasets, Paul and Valtonen [ 36 ] infer that SES specific mean and the distribution of perceived health status within SES are important guides to improve average health of the Russian population. Although the lasting effect of transitional changes on the Latvian population health is an obvious phenomenon, the evidence is limited [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Erratum to: Health inequality in the Russian federation: an examination of the changes in concentration and achievement indices from 1994 to 2013

“…Unfortunately, after publication of this article [ 1 ] it was noticed that there were two errors. The final line of the Background section should read, “Our data is unique in the sense that we follow the same individuals over an 18-year period.” The first line of the 4th paragraph of the Methods section should instead read, “Our dependent variable for the analysis is self-perceived (self-assessed) health (SAH).”…”