Objective:

To analyze health inequities associated with conditions of environmental sanitation and access to health insurance.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was designed by analyzing the national household survey of Costa Rica 2018 statistically representative of the national population. The frequency of material deprivation attributable to ten indicators of environmental sanitation and access to health insurance was obtained. A strati ed analysis was carried out according to educational level and socioeconomic status to show variations. Inferential tests were performed to statistically verify trends that explain health inequities.

Results:

The material deprivation measured through indicators of environmental sanitation and access to health insurance is presented in relatively small proportions according to the total population, although it increases as a consistent and statistically signi cant trend, as the educational level decreases and poverty increases The presence of inadequate sanitary service is 35.14 (27.05-41.00) times more frequent in households whose head does not exceed the elementary level of education and 7.78 (7.03- 8.20) times more frequent in households with extreme poverty. Likewise, the frequency of households that cook with rewood or coal becomes 29.1 (23,04-35,8) times more frequent in households whose head does not exceed the primary education level.

Conclusions:

There are inequities in material deprivation attributable to environmental sanitation and access to health insurance in Costa Rica, which is associated with the level of education and the level of economic income of the population.

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