Socioeconomic status and access to primary health care: a cross-sectional study in four health units in Northern Portugal

Authors

  • Vânia Teixeira Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, Unidade de Cuidados Continuados, Hospital-escola Universidade Fernando Pessoa
  • Ana Mafalda Macedo Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, UCSP Cinfães – ACeS Baixo Tâmega
  • Catarina Borges Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, UCSP santo António do Laranjeiro, ACeS Almada –Seixal
  • Sofia Carrapa Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, UCSP Castro D'Aire, ACeS Dão Lafões
  • Sara China Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, Centro de Saúde da Marinha Grande – ACeS Pinhal Litoral
  • Raquel Cunha Médica assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, UCSP Terras de Bouro, ACeS Gerês – Cabreira

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v32i6.11958

Keywords:

Primary Health Care, Socioeconomic Status, Accessibility

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between socioeconomic status and access to Primary Health Care in four Family Health Units (FHU) in the north of Portugal, in the dimensions of health care needs perceived by the patient, namely availability and accommodation, affordability and appropriateness. Type of Study: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Brás-Oleiro FHU, São Pedro da Cova FHU, Bracara Augusta FHU, and Prelada FHU. Participants: Adult patients (18 years of age or older) registered in these health units for more than 12 months, on the lists of one of four family medicine residency trainers, with at least one contact in the last 24 months. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted between April and December 2014. Each of the dimensions of accessibility was evaluated by a global score, which was related to the socioeconomic status of the population. We used the Qui-Square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation to test associations. Results: Of the 1,250 selected patients, 692 (55.4%) answered the questionnaire. We found statistically significant differences between health units for each score (p < 0.05). Education, income, family size, and health fee exemption status were significantly correlated with all scores. Age, professional status, global health status and the duration of the relationship between the patient and the family doctor were significantly correlated with the scores for “availability and accommodation” (p < 0.05) and “appropriateness” (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this population, a disadvantaged socioeconomic status and a worse health status were correlated with greater accessibility to health care, especially regarding «Availability and accommodation» and «Appropriateness».

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Published

2016-11-01

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 6 (2016): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

License

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How to Cite

Socioeconomic status and access to primary health care: a cross-sectional study in four health units in Northern Portugal. (2016). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 32(6), 376-86. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v32i6.11958