Secular trends in socioeconomic determinants of child health in S. Paulo city, Brazil (1984-1996)

Objective Two consecutive household surveys undertaken in the mid-80s and m id-90s in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil, made possible to establish time tre nds of several child health determinants and indicators as well as to analy se rite relationships among them. The study intends to report trends in soc ioeconomic determinants of child health. Methods Random samples of the population aged from zero to 59 months were s tudied: 1,016 children ii? the period 1984-85 and 1,280 children iii 1995-9 6. Both surveys investigated the family's per capita income and the mother' s years of schooling. Nominal incomes were deflated according to the Nation al Consumer Prices Index and expressed as values of October 1997. Results From mid-80s to mid-90s average family income doubled and the propo rtion of low income families was reduced by 50% while average maternal scho oling increased by 1.5 years and maternal illiteracy tvas almost eradicated . Income concentration increased in the period. Conclusions Increases in income and schooling are higher than those reporte d for the whole population in the country, which may be attributed to selec tive declines in fertility among the city's poorest families. The influence that changes in family income and maternal schooling may have exerted on s everal child health indicators is examined in subsequent articles.