Determinants and differences of health status between geographic regions in Costa

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the determinants of self rated health between geographic regions in Costa Rica. The National Health Survey 2006 is used (ENSA 2006) to consider the relations between socioeconomic variables and the state of health by ordered probit model. Results show that after controlling by age, sex, socioeconomic characteristics, necessity of health and life styles, there are differences of health status between individuals of the Costa Rican regions. Do not exist differences between men and women in the health status, the prolonged formal education is positively related with a better health status, life styles considered detrimental for health are not related to bad health status, to suffer a chronic disease has negative effects and to live in pair has positive effects on the health status.