Role of social class on gender inequalities in visual impairment in a southern European country

Consistent data are found on the increased prevalence of visual impairment among women versus men and manual workers versus non-manual. Women account for two-thirds of global blindness. OBJECTIVE. Describe the role that social class plays on gender inequalities in Spain and the importance to report stratified data. METHODS. Cross sectional health survey (National Health Survey of Spain-2006). The present analysis was restricted to the population aged 16 or more years (n=29478). Multiple logistic regression models separated for sex and social class (manual and non-manual workers) and controlling for age were fitted. Participants were representative for the adult Spanish population. RESULTS. Prevalence of visual impairment was more frequent in women (6.60%) than men (3.70%). Visual impairment was more strongly associated with being nonqualified manual workers in women (OR 3,38; 95%CI = 2.18 to 5.23) than in men (OR 2.00; 95%CI = 1.36 to 2.95). While 85.7% of women with visual impairment were manual workers, 63.5% of men were. Adjusting per age, the effect decreased for women (OR 2.45; 95%CI = 1.57 to 3.84) but still showed stronger association than men (OR 1.97; 95%CI = 1.33 to 2.92). CONCLUSION: Social class and being a woman is associated with visual impairment in Spain. Being a manual worker seems to be a higher risk factor of visual impairment for women than men. Stratification of the results for sex and social class is needed in future research to better explain the interaction those factors internationally.