Despite standards of living and life expectancy amongst the highest in Europe, Switzerland exhibits fairly substantial social inequities in health. As regards male mortality by socio-economic group, these differentials are both marked and independent of cause of death. There is a wealth of information on morbidity and disability supporting the hypothesis that people in lower socio-economic groups tend to age faster and suffer more at younger ages. It is similarly evident that infants of low class mothers, particularly those unwed, underprivileged immigrant, are at excess risk. The Swiss results are of political and scientific interest in that they suggest that the average wealth of a community does not determine health differentials. © 1990.

Health status Switzerland social inequities morbidity Mortality

social justice insurance perinatal mortality human sex difference social inequity economic aspect comparative study health status Aged morbidity mental health care Health Services Needs and Demand income Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent life expectancy Infant, Newborn male female Socioeconomic Factors Infant Child, Preschool Risk Factors theoretical study Conference Paper organization and management adult age Quality Assurance, Health Care Infant Mortality normal human Health Policy health care system social class employment mortality Switzerland Health Services Accessibility Middle Age Child