Health in Europe and Russia: Societal Context and Social Inequalities

Abstract

Article is devoted to health differences in the European states and social inequalities in health in Europe. The analysis of the European Social Survey 2008 data (representative samples of the population of 28 countries) and statistics of World bank and WHO, carried out with methods of two-level logistic modeling, shows that in the postcommunist countries health is, as a rule, significantly worse, than in other parts of the continent. The reason of such differences is rather low level of their development (inefficient economy, welfare state, public administration) and low social integration. It is found also that health in Europe is structured on demographic and social variables, and such structuring depends on a macro context — a country level of social development. With growth of this level, social inequalities in health start smoothing out.