Ovo je prvi od dva rada u kojima se razmatra odnos društvene stratifikacije, zdravlja i zdravstvene zaštite. Razlike u zdravlju, zaštiti zdravlja i zdravstvenom ponašanju koje se medu društvenim skupinama javljaju kao posljedica njihovog stratifikacijskog položaja imaju značenje zdravstvenih nejednakosti. U prvom dijelu rada, rezultati međunarodnih istraživanja pokazuju da je zdravlje, odnosno zdravstveno stanje mjereno negativnim pokazateljima smrtnosti i obolijevanja te preventivno i rizično zdravstveno ponašanje nejednako raspoređeno medu društvenim slojevima. Rezultati istraživanja provedenog u Zagrebu i okolici 1990., prikazani u drugom dijelu rada, ukazuju na postojanje značajnih nejednakosti u zdravlju i zdravstvenoj zaštiti u našoj populaciji. Osnovni oblik zdravstvenih nejednakosti u nas izgleda, uz izvjesna odstupanja kod pojedinih pokazatelja, ovako: na vrhu stratifikacijske ljestvice s najboljim pokazateljima subjektivnog zdravlja, pristupačnosti zdravstvene zaštite te preventivnog zdravstvenog ponašanja nalaze se direktori i stručnjaci, tj. skupine s najvišim socioekonomskim statusom; na dnu, s najlošijim pokazateljima, nalaze se poljoprivrednici i niže skupine radnika.This paper deals with effect of social stratification on health and health care. Differences in health status between social groups as the result of their position on stratification scale are considered as health inequalities. Results of the international studies which are reviewed in the first part of the paper show that health, i.e. health status measured by negative indicators such as mortality and morbidity rates as well as health behavior are unequally distributed between social classes. In general, members of higher social groups have better health status (longer life expectancy, lower mortality and morbidity rates, more positive health behavior) than those from the groups with lower socioeconomic status.
In the second part of the paper the first empirical evidence on social inequalities in health and health care in the Croatian population is shown. In the research carried out in the Zagreb area in 1990. the considerable inequalities were discovered in health status when measured by self-perceived general state of health, experience of symptoms, pain and worry about health. The social groups reported also significant differing in dental health. Social inequalities are shown when accessibility and utilization of health care services are analyzed. The inequalities are significant in primary health care and high discretionary dental care, while low discretion specialist and hospital services are rather equally distributed. Considerable inequalities were also discovered in preventive behavior. In general, the managers and professionals, groups with the highest socioeconomic status, have the best health status and health care indicators while the peasants and unskilled workers, groups with the lowest socioeconomic status, have the worst health and use health care services less than they need
