Employment status and self rated health.

OBJECTIVES In many countries, reducing inequalities in health and mortality has become a significant problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between employment status and self rated health in study population. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was performed in the randomly selected population of individuals aged 25-64 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals as well as to control the effects of employment status and self rated health. RESULTS The multifactorial logistic regression analysis indicates that, in men and women, self rated health was associated with employment status. Among unemployed men, the risk of low self health assessment was over 3 times higher than in the employed ones (adjusted OR = 3.34; 95% Cl: 1.96-11.58). Among unemployed women, the risk of low self health assessment was nearly 1.5 times higher than among the employed (adjusted OR = 1.35; 95% Cl: 1.06-3.02). CONCLUSIONS Self health assessment is related to a number of factors, including unemployment, low education or income, that increase the risk of poor health. These results emphasise the potential health consequences of unemployment and material circumstances in Poland.