ROLE OF CHILDHOOD HEALTH IN THE EXPLANATION OF SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN EARLY ADULT HEALTH

Study objective-To examine the contribution of childhood health to the explanation of socioeconomic inequalities in health in early adult Li fe. Design-Retrospective data were used, which were obtained from a po stal survey in the baseline of a prospective cohort study (the Longitu dinal Study on Socio-Economic Health Differences in the Netherlands). Adult socioeconomic status was indicated by educational level, while h ealth was indicated by perceived general health. Childhood health was measured by self reported periods of severe disease in childhood. Rela tions were analysed using logistic regression models. The reduction in odds ratios of ''less than good'' perceived general health for differ ent educational groups after adjustment for childhood health was used to estimate the contribution of childhood health. Setting-The populati on of the city of Eindhoven and surroundings in the south east of the Netherlands in 1991. Participants-2511 respondents, aged 25-34 years, men and women, of Dutch nationality, were included in the analysis. Ma in results-There was a clear association between childhood health and adult health, as well as an association between childhood health and a dult socioeconomic status. Approximately 5% to 10% of the increased ri sk of the lower socioeconomic groups of having a ((less than good)) pe rceived general health can be explained by childhood health. Conclusio ns-Childhood health contributes to the explanation of socioeconomic in equalities in early adult health. Although this contribution is not ve ry large, it cannot be ignored and has to be interpreted largely in te rms of selection on health.