Društvene i osobne odrednice zdravstvenog stanja i ponašanja žena u Hrvatskoj s posebnim osvrtom na zdravstvenu zaštitu žena domaćica

The aim of this study was to investigate health status and determinants of health in the housewife population in Croatia. The data were collected during the Croatian health survey in 2003, and compose representative sample of the Croatian population. Official demographic and mortality data for female population were used from the national census. Out of 4 437 460 citizens, 303 374 were housewives. Out of 6175 women in this study 1960 were housewives, 53,4% of them live in rural areas, whereas 74,9% don't have any or have only primary education. Housewives more often live in rural or suburban settings, have a lower education level and lower income than employed women. Their self assessment of the economic status is worse then of the employed, but better then the unemployed ones. Their position in the society is not recognized as attractive. Mortality rates for cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and injuries are higher in the housewife than in the non-housewife population. In comparison to non-housewives, housewives have higher chances for death caused by the following causes: 1,48 times for cardiovascular disease, 1,50 times for lung disease, 1,29 due to accidents and 1,45 due to psychiatric disorders. Among ten leading causes of death there are no significant differences between housewives and non-housewives for the cancers (breast, colon, lung), and diabetes. Smoking and higher salt consumption are important health risks for the housewives. Higher physical activity rates and fruit consumption are positive behavioural determinants. In comparison to employed women, housewives eat more animal fats, add more salt to food and eat more fruit. In comparison to unemployed women, housewives eat less animal fat, add more salt to food, and eat less fruit. 101 Logistic regression models were used to analyze socioeconomic determinants for mental and physical health. In comparison to non-housewives without formal education, non-housewives with some degree of education have higher chances for better mental health: with primary school 1,42 times, with secondary school 1,69 times, and with higher education level 2,22 times. Among housewives there is no recognized influence of the observed socioeconomic determinants to the mental wellbeing. In comparison to the housewives without formal education, the housewives with some degree of education have higher chances for better physical health: with primary school 1,63 times, secondary school 2,00 times and with university degree 4,17. There was no clear relation between place of living and better physical health among housewives and non-housewives. Information collected in the interviews show very complex structure of the housewife role. Apart from usually recognized health determinants among general female population, there are many specific factors relevant for housewives. These are: economic relation with employed husband, intensive relations with children, ambivalent attitude to the employment possibilities, specific workload related to the household (family business, house construction) and very intensive relation with other family members. Overall results suggest worse socioeconomic and health status of the housewife population than the general female population in Croatia