Table 1 Socio-demographic and health-related characteristics of women in the 1946–51 ALSWH1cohort at survey 1 in 1996 (N=12,709)
Low SES (n=4,943) % | Mid SES (n=4,531) % | High SES (n=3,235) % | Total (n=12,709) % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area of residence | ||||
Capital city/Other metropolitan centers | 69.1 | 71.8 | 78.0 | 72.6 |
Large/Small rural centers or remote | 30.9 | 28.2 | 22.0 | 27.4 |
Marital status | ||||
Married/De-facto | 83.4 | 81.2 | 78.2 | 81.1 |
Separated/Divorced/Widowed/Single | 16.6 | 18.9 | 21.8 | 18.9 |
Smoker | ||||
Non-smoker | 51.4 | 51.3 | 58.5 | 53.4 |
Ex-smoker | 26.9 | 30.8 | 29.6 | 29.0 |
Smoker | 21.7 | 17.8 | 11.9 | 17.6 |
Body Mass Index (BMI) | ||||
Normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) | 49.3 | 52.9 | 59.7 | 53.6 |
Underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2) | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
Overweight (25.0-30.0 kg/m2) | 28.8 | 28.0 | 25.8 | 27.6 |
Obese (Obese (>30.0 kg/m2) | 20.5 | 17.3 | 11.9 | 16.9 |
Ability to manage on income | ||||
Easy | 12.6 | 14.6 | 22.8 | 16.2 |
Not too bad | 40.6 | 43.6 | 43.3 | 42.4 |
Difficult sometimes | 30.2 | 27.5 | 23.6 | 27.4 |
Impossible or difficult always | 16.7 | 14.3 | 10.4 | 14.1 |
Age first left school | ||||
16 years or younger | 56.7 | 36.0 | 7.3 | 67.1 |
17 years or older | 2.6 | 34.9 | 62.7 | 32.9 |
Highest qualification attained | ||||
No formal qualification | 88.1 | 11.9 | 0.0 | 17.2 |
School certificate | 70.3 | 29.7 | 0.0 | 31.6 |
Higher school certificate | 8.8 | 79.0 | 12.1 | 16.9 |
Trade, apprenticeship, certificate or diploma | 0.0 | 52.0 | 48.0 | 19.8 |
Higher degree or bachelor degree | 0.0 | 4.0 | 96.0 | 14.5 |
Main occupation (current or last) | ||||
Never had a paid job | 92.7 | 7.3 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
Machine operator, cleaner | 87.0 | 13.1 | 0.0 | 15.3 |
Advanced/Intermediate sales, clerk, personal service worker | 57.0 | 41.5 | 1.5 | 40.4 |
Associate professional or trades-person | 8.0 | 57.2 | 34.9 | 13.1 |
Manager/Administrator/Professional | 0.0 | 31.5 | 68.6 | 29.6 |
Total | 38.9 | 35.6 | 25.5 | 100.00 |