Social Inequality in Mortality in São Paulo State, Brazil

In order to evaluate the extent of social differentials in mortality in a setting of major social inequality--the State of Sao Paulo Brazil deaths in men aged 15-64 years residing in Sao Paulo from 1980 to 1982 were linked in broad occupationally-determined categories to estimates of population size based on the 1980 Brazilian national census....Mortality was 3.8 and 2.9 times greater comparing least to most socially favoured occupational category in each of the two classification systems respectively. Independent of system mortality decreased approximately 1.1% for each 1% increase along the occupationally-defined social gradient. This decrease was 48% greater than the equivalent calculated decrease for men of England and Wales....These data support the contention that mortality for Brazilian adults even more so than for adults of the worlds more economically developed nations is inextricably bound to the issue of social equity. (EXCERPT)