The effect of poverty on health in Inonu Emin Aytan Health Centre district

THE EFFECT OF POVERTY ON HEALTH IN INONU EMIN AYTAN HEALTHCENTRE DISTRICTCANAN KAYNAKThe objective of the study is to assess the effect of the poverty on the health of the residentsaged fifteen and over in nönü Emin Aytan Health Centre District.The study was of cross-sectional type. The sample size was 410. The response rate was 35percent.Short Form 12v2 was used to measure health status whereas monetary poverty indicator andcomposite poverty indicator were used as measures of poverty. The effect of poverty onhealth was adjusted for presence of complaints in the previous 15 days, presence of chronicdisease, age, gender, education and class.Monetary poverty and cluster poverty prevelance were 55 and 64 percent, correspondingly.The mean physical component and mental component summary scores were 47.0 and 43.3,respectively. Age, chronic disease and complaint in the previous 15 days were the significantdeterminants of the physical health. Physical health had no significant association with eitherpoverty indicators. There was no significant relationship between mental health and monetarypoverty. Composite poverty was a significant determinant of mental health along with genderand complaint in the previous 15 days.Composite poverty concept which defines individuals according to their holistic status ratherthan artificial and empirical distinctions by sole variables had determined the health statusbetter than a definition relying merely on income. The association between poverty andmental health was not limited to income. Thus, structural interventions embracing alldimensions of life are needed to relieve the iniquitous effects of poverty on health.