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Social Determinants of Health for Older Women in Canada: Does Rural–Urban Residency Matter?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2010

Deanna Wanless ,
Barbara A. Mitchell  and
Andrew V. Wister
Deanna Wanless*
Affiliation:
Alberta Centre on Aging, University of Alberta
Barbara A. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Departments of Sociology/Anthropology & Gerontology, Simon Fraser University
Andrew V. Wister
Affiliation:
Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to / La correspondance concernant cet article doit être adressées à: Deanna Wanless, M.A.Research Coordinator Alberta Centre on Aging University of Alberta 305 Campus Tower Edmonton, AB T6K 1K8 ([email protected])
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Abstract

This study provided an exploratory analysis of key social determinants of health for older Canadian women, with a focus on differences between rural and urban residency, given that socio-economic status (SES) and social capital have been shown to differ by rural–urban residence. Secondary analysis was conducted using the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey. A comparative logistic regression analysis revealed, unexpectedly, that SES and social capital variables were more strongly associated with the health status of urban older women than for the health status of their rural counterparts. Associations between health status measures and household income, food insecurity, and community belonging were largely not supported among rural women, but were for their urban counterparts. Findings are discussed concerning applications of the social-determinants-of-health model for explaining health patterns among older urban and rural women. Cost of living, access to health services, and dimensions of rural culture are discussed as potential explanations.

Résumé

Cette étude a fourni une analyse exploratoire des principaux déterminants sociaux de la santé des femmes âgées canadiennes, en se concentrant sur les différences entre la résidence dans régions rurals et urbaines, étant donné que le statut socio-économique (SES) et le capital social ont été démontrés diffèrent selon la résidence rurale-urbaine. Une analyse secondaire a été effectuée en utilisant l’Enquête de la santé communautaire canadienne, 2000/2001. Une analyse comparative de régression logistique a inopinément révélé que les variables de statut socio-économique et capital social étaient plus fortement associés à la santé des femmes plus âgées urbaines qu’avec leurs homologues rurales. Les associations entre les mesures de revenu de ménage et l’état de santé, de l’insécurité alimentaire et d’appartenance au communauté n’ont pas été pris en charge, pour la plupart, parmi les femmes rurales, mais ont été pris en charge pour leurs homologues urbains. Les conclusions concernant les applications du modèle social-déterminants-de-santé sont discutées pour expliquer les motifs de santé parmi les femmes âgées urbaines et rurales.

Keywords

vieillissementprincipaux déterminants sociaux de la santérural-eurbain-efemmescapital socialagingsocial determinants of healthruralurbanwomensocial capital
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 233 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2010

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