Life expectancy success story

ScienceDaily (Aug. 25, 2011) ? Life expectancy is increasing all the time due to better quality of life and better health care. Despite this, increases in life expectancy can be patchy, with some sources reporting that the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor is getting bigger as time goes on. However, a new report in BioMed Central's open access journal International Journal for Equity in Health finds that the life expectancy for people living in deprived areas in Campinas, Brazil, is catching up, rising at three times the rate of people living in more affluent areas.

Researchers from the State University of Campinas, S?o Paulo found that in 2000 the difference in life expectancy for people from deprived areas was 6.5 years less than those from the most affluent areas, but by 2005 this had reduced to 4.2 years. This difference was most noticeable for men from deprived areas whose life expectancy improved by over twice that of women from the same area (4.7 years compared to 2.2 years).

Prof Barros, who led this research, said that, "Our results clearly show a decline in the social inequalities in life expectancy which corresponds to a threefold overall rate of increase in life expectancy between deprived and affluent areas. During these five years of our study there has been an expansion in available health care and a decrease in violent deaths, both of which have more impact in the more deprived areas, and together may explain the improvements we found."

While some more developed countries are finding widening gaps in life expectancy, this example from Brazil may point the way towards parity in life expectancy between the sexes, and between the poor and disadvantaged, and the rich and comfortable.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by BioMed Central, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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Journal Reference:

1. Ana Paula Belon, Marilisa B.A. Barros. Reduction of social inequalities in life expectancy in a city of Southeastern Brazil. International Journal for Equity in Health, 2011; (in press) [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mthh2Tg69TU/110825202411.htm

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