Individual and Contextual Factors in Self-Rated Health Inequalities: A Comparison between Romania, 10NMS and EU15
Individual and Contextual Factors in Self-Rated Health Inequalities: A Comparison between Romania, 10NMS and EU15

Summary/Abstract: Romania, as part of EU, distinguishes itself from the other groups of EU countries in many respects. The paper takes stock of prior findings on health inequalities in Romania and sets out to explore the pattern of inequalities in self-reported health status in Romania in comparison to ten NMS and EU15. Drawing on individual data gathered on national representative samples through European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), a logistic regression was carried out in order to assess the role of individual and contextual factors in shaping the patterns of inequalities in self-reported health in Romania in comparison to two major groups of European countries. Research findings indicate that individual factors like age, gender, education, employment status and income are key to understanding inequalities in self-rated health in Romania and the analysed groups of countries, this proving to a universal pattern. Contextual factors proved to be less important in determining self-rated health in Romania while they may play a more important role in two groups of countries considered here. Inequalities are more pronounced in Romania in what regards sex and education in comparison to the two analysed groups of countries. Evaluation of health services is a crucial factor in Romania and the two groups of countries in self-rated health while the role of environmental factors is not important in Romania and varies in the country between NMS10 and EU15.

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