Health Perceptions in Latin America

Using information obtained with uniform methodologies from recent Gallup World Polls, this paper assesses individual health perceptions in Latin America and the Caribbean, comparing them with perceptions in other regions. As suggested by previous literature, cross-national comparisons of health satisfaction may be at odds with objective health indicators, with large differences among countries, even though perceptions follow socioeconomic gradients within countries; particularly important in this regard are income and relative income position. It is also found that lower-income groups do not show higher tolerance of their health limitations than other groups. Other factors influencing perceptions include gender, age and the frequency of health problems. The paper concludes with a summary of the main results and their implications for several health policy discussions and health research