Outpatient health service utilization and associated factors: a population-based study
| Autor: | Mendoza-Sassi Raúl, Béria Jorge U, Barros Aluísio J D |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | English<br />Spanish; Castilian<br />Portuguese |
| Rok vydání: | 2003 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Revista de Saúde Pública, Vol 37, Iss 3, Pp 372-378 (2003) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 0034-8910 1518-8787 |
| Popis: | OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that lead people to visit a doctor in Brazil and assess differences between socioeconomic groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study comprising 1,260 subjects aged 15 or more was carried out in southern Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, health needs and regular source of care data were analyzed concerning visits to a doctor within two months from the interview. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Adjusted PR showed that women having stressful life events, health insurance, and a regular doctor increased the outcome. A dose-related response was found with self-reported health, and the probability of visiting a doctor increased with health needs. Analysis in the chronic disease group revealed that uneducated lower income subjects had a 62% reduction in the chance of visiting a doctor compared to uneducated higher income ones. However, as it was seen a significant interaction between income and education, years of schooling increased utilization in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the existence of health inequity in the poorest group that could be overcome with education. Specific measures reinforcing the importance of having a regular doctor may also improve access in the underserved group. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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