Association between socio-economic status and health of older adults in rural Bangladesh and India: a comparative cross-sectional study

Inequalities in health are noticeable among older people in many developing countries, driven by poor social protection systems and low socio-economic status (SES). The present study attempts to examine the effects of SES on health of older adults, and related gender differences, in rural Bangladesh and India using standardized data collection instruments. The study uses the INDEPTH-WHO SAGE Matlab, Bangladesh and Pune District, India datasets. Quintiles of wealth and educational attainment are used as the indicators of socio-economic status, while self-rated health, quality of life, health state, and disability level are used as health indicators. In multiple regression models, both SES indicators are significantly associated with each health status indicator in older adults in Bangladesh, whereas, in India, they are found to be not consistently associated with the four health indicators. Highest level of education is a better predictor of the four health indicators than wealth among older adults in both countries. The findings have profound implications with regard to designing health intervention programmes for older adult populations in both countries.