[Socioeconomic status, self-assessed health and morbidity among Norwegian women aged 45-64].

BACKGROUND

Information from the Norwegian Women and Cancer study was used in a study of the relationship between socio-economic status, place of residence and self-reported health and diseases. Total household income was used as a proxy for socio-economic status.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 1997 a questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 20,000 Norwegian women aged 45-69, and a sample of 10,000 women from Northern Norway aged 45-64. Only data on women aged 45-64 were included in the analysis. The response rate was 60.0%.

RESULTS

More women in Northern Norway than in Southern Norway reported bad or very bad health. These geographical differences were reduced after adjustment for total household income, which was strongly correlated with self-reported health, physical as well as mental health, diabetes and to a lesser extent hypertension.

INTERPRETATION

The study indicates that there are major differences in health according to social class in Norway.