Health Status of Women Experiencing Homelessness across Diverse Economic and Cultural Contexts: A Comparative Analysis in Nicaragua, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Spain

The article examines the similarities and differences related to health among women experiencing homelessness (N=292) across four countries with different cultures and income levels: Spain (n=136), Argentina (n=72), Puerto Rico (n=54), and Nicaragua (n=30). Data were collected through a structured interview, in order to ensure the homogeneity of the data and to reduce potential reading or comprehension difficulties. Results show that women experiencing homelessness interviewed in all four countries perceived their own health status as poor, with high rates of women reporting medically diagnosed severe or chronic illnesses and/or disabilities. Women who had been diagnosed with a severe or chronic illness were older on average, had experienced homelessness for longer, and consumed sedatives or tranquilizers, had used drugs, and had attempted suicide to a greater extent than those without such diagnoses. Univariate analyses were complemented by multivariate ones to identify women who were at higher health risk. Results from logistic regression suggest that increasing age, excessive drug use, and having attempted suicide are significant predictors of suffering a diagnosed severe or chronic illness among women experiencing homelessness. These findings may help guide future prevention strategies and detect indicators of especially negative outcomes, while recognizing the importance of the context, as women experiencing homelessness in countries with lower income levels face situations of increased vulnerability in relation to health issues.