The social space of health inequalities in Portugal

The main purpose of this research was to analyse the effects of the social structure on unequal patterns of morbidity and mortality in Portugal. The data source was based on the analysis of individual clinical files of inpatients from two hospitals who died in 2004 (N = 1935). Data were collected from these files on social and health dimensions so as to define each person's social class, health-related lifestyle, life trajectory and illness trajectories A theoretical framework inspired by Cockerham and Bourdieu's concepts as well as both multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were used to visualise the complex multidimensional social space of this health inequality field. The results show that over the life course, individuals positioned in different social classes experience distinct health and disease trajectories. The unequal distribution of the diseases and the causes of death in the social space reveal a structure of social inequalities based on the differentiated possibilities of accessing and using health resources. Social Theory & Health (2011) 9, 393-409. doi:10.1057/sth.2011.17; published online 5 October 2011