scholarly journals Influence of Gender Determinants on Informal Care and Health Service Utilization in Spain: Ten Years after the Approval of the Equality Law

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Raquel Sánchez-Recio ◽  
Cristina García-Ael ◽  
Gabriela Topa

The existence of gender inequalities in health, in the use of health services, and in the development of informal care has been demonstrated throughout scientific literature. In Spain, a law was passed in 2007 to promote effective equality between men and women. Despite this, different studies have shown that the previous gender inequalities are still present in Spanish society. For all these reasons, the objective of this paper is to study the differences by sex in informal care and in the use of emergency care, and to identify the existence of gender inequalities in Spain 10 years after the adoption of the aforementioned equality law. In this case, we development a cross-sectional study based on the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey of the Spanish population aged 16 and over. To analyze the influence of gender determinants on informal care and emergency care utilization, logistic regressions were performed, model 1 was adjusted for age, and model 2 was further adjusted too by the variables of the Andersen care demand model. The results showed that informal care and the use of the emergency care continues to be higher in women than in men. Informal care in women was related to a higher level of education. In emergency care, the older the age, the lower the probability of utilization, and living in a rural municipality was related to a higher probability of utilization for both sexes. Finally, we concluded that there is still a need for studies that analyze gender inequalities in different contexts, such as the informal care and the use of health services. This is especially relevant in Spain, where economic changes have led to a change in roles, mainly for women, and new management strategies are needed to achieve equity in care and effective equality between men and women.

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. S794
Author(s):  
M. Kolotourou ◽  
O. Konstantakopoulou ◽  
G. Charalambous ◽  
P. Galanis ◽  
O. Siskou ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (suppl 2) ◽  
pp. s198-s208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilisa Berti de Azevedo Barros ◽  
Priscila Maria Stolses Bergamo Francisco ◽  
Margareth Guimarães Lima ◽  
Chester Luiz Galvão César

The aim of the present study was to assess social inequalities in health status, health behavior and the use of health services based on education level. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out involving 1,518 elderly residents of Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. Significant demographic and social differences were found between schooling strata. Elderly individuals with a higher degree of schooling are in greater proportion alcohol drinkers, physically active, have healthier diets and a lower prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dizziness, headaches, back pain, visual impairment and denture use, and better self-rated health. But, there were no differences in the use of health services in the previous two weeks, in hospitalizations or surgeries in the previous year, nor in medicine intake over the previous three days. Among elderly people with hypertension and diabetes, there were no differences in the regular use of health services and medication. The results demonstrate social inequalities in different health indicators, along with equity in access to some health service components.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1061
Author(s):  
Sathirakorn Pongpanich ◽  
Abdul Ghaffar ◽  
Najma Ghaffar ◽  
Hafiz Abdul Majid

Background: Information on determinants of postnatal care is essential for maternal health services, and this information is scarce in Pakistan. This study aimed to determine the factors of newborn postnatal care utilization from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) conducted from 2006–2018. Methods: We analyzed data from three rounds of cross-sectional, nationally representative PDHS 2006–07, 2012–13, and 2017–18. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore factors associated with utilization of newborn postnatal care within two months. Results: This study included 5724 women from the 2006–07 PDHS, 7461 from the 2012–13 survey, and 8287 from the 2017–18 survey. The proportion of women receiving newborn postnatal care within the first two months of delivery increased from 13% in 2006–07 to 43% in 2012–13 but dropped to 27% in 2017–18. Respondent’s occupation and prenatal care utilization of maternal health services were common factors that significantly influenced newborn postnatal care utilization within two months. The utilization of postnatal care was greater among women having educated husbands and where the first child was a male in PDHS 2007 round. Higher wealth index and educated respondent had higher postnatal care utilization odds in DHS 2012 and DHS 2018. However, the odds of using postnatal care decreased with the number of household members and total number of children ever born in DHS 2012 and 2018 rounds. Conclusions: There was a general increase in the proportion of women who utilized postnatal care for their newborns during 2006–2013 but a decrease in 2018. The decreased utilization in 2018 warrants further investigation. Improving women’s economic status, education, employment, and antenatal care attendance and reducing parity may increase newborn postnatal care utilization.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dialechti Tsimpida ◽  
Daphne Kaitelidou ◽  
Petros Galanis

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: To explore the issues related to the use of health services by deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece.Method: The study population consisted of 140 adults with hearing loss (86 deaf and 54 hard of hearing). We gathered information about sociodemographic characteristics, use of health services characteristics, satisfaction from health providers and complaints during the use of health services.Results: A considerable percentage of the participants did not make appropriate use of healthcare services, as they made avoidable visits to emergency departments even for minor, short-term conditions (p=0.002) or used to just wait for the symptoms to pass in an illness occurrence (p=0.06). They also experienced major difficulties as part of the health visit (p=0.01) and the quality of communication with health providers (p=0.002). The absence of assistive technology, along with the lack of low availability of Sign Language interpreters, were important barriers for those that communicate in Sign Language. Regarding the engagement with healthcare providers, there were high rates of dissatisfaction from doctors, nurses and receptionists related to issues during the use of health services.Conclusions: Our results underscore the fact that deaf and hard of hearing persons constitute a minority population that experience major barriers during the use of health services and considerable difficulties in the healthcare provider-patient relationship. In light of these findings, a special effort must be made to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing individuals receive appropriate, ethical and person-centered healthcare.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Afzal Mahmood ◽  
Anna E. Bauze ◽  
Justin T. Lokhorst ◽  
Peng Bi ◽  
Arthur Saniotis

Background. The number of people living alone is increasing markedly. Others live as couples only, couples with child(ren) and single adult with child(ren). Health service utilisation could differ for people in different living arrangements as a result of varying levels of risk factors, health status, access to informal care and decision-making for accessing care. Objective. To identify the association between living arrangements and health service use. Methods. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey 2001 data for people 18–65 years old were analysed for household composition and service use. Results. People in various household types differ in terms of their overall use of health services and their use of services by general practitioners. Sex, rurality, socioeconomic status and status of heart condition significantly influenced the use of health services. Conclusion. There are implications for health services provision and planning within the context of rapid changes in living arrangements. Additional research is required to explore the reasons to such differences, level of access to informal care, healthcare decision-making processes and consequences of under- or over-utilisation of services. What is known about the topic? Health service use is influenced by the disease burden and pattern, demography, economic factors, access to social support, quality of care and satisfaction with standards of care. These factors may influence access to and use of care. What does this paper add? This research points to the potential role of living arrangements on health services use. Many people now live alone and may not have access to informal care, and access to health information and education. People in different living arrangements appear to have different health service use. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners, in both primary care and acute care sectors, need to consider that patients, including younger people, may not have access to informal care, may present with delays and may not have the needed adequate support during convalescence. Health education needs to consider that people in different living arrangements may be exposed to different levels of risk factors in terms of their healthcare use.


Author(s):  
Guilherme Oliveira de Arruda ◽  
Sonia Silva Marcon

Objective estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with the use of health services by men between 20 and 59 years of age. Method population-based, cross-sectional domestic survey undertaken with 421 adult men, selected through systematic random sampling. The data were collected through a structured instrument and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with multiple logistic regression. Results the prevalence rate of health service use during the three months before the interviews was 42.8%, being higher among unemployed men with a religious creed who used private hospitals more frequently, had been hospitalized in the previous 12 months and referred some disease. Conclusion the prevalence of health service use by adult men does not differ from other studies and was considered high. It shows to be related with the need for curative care, based on the associated factors found.


2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 3925-3930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Forgiarini Saldanha ◽  
Flavio Pechansky ◽  
Daniela Benzano ◽  
Carlos Alberto Sampaio Martins de Barros ◽  
Raquel Brandini De Boni

Driving under the influence of alcohol/ drugs (DUI) is a well-established risk factor for traffic accidents, and men and women have different consumption patterns. The scope of this paper is to analyze differences in alcohol and drug consumption, as well as on behavior associated with traffic accidents among men and women. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 609 sequential traffic accident victims attended in emergency care from Porto Alegre. Subjects gave a structured interview, were breathalyzed and had a saliva test for alcohol/drug screening. Results showed that women were mainly passengers or pedestrians (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in positive blood alcohol concentration. However, men reported more binge drinking and THC use, while women had more benzodiazepine in their saliva (p<0.05). This is the first Brazilian study to compare alcohol and drug use among men and women who were the victims of traffic accidents. Results point to differences in the pattern of substance abuse, as well on risk behavior. Data may be useful for specific prevention strategies that take gender differences into consideration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 205031211774590
Author(s):  
María Calixta Ortiz-Rivera

Objectives: This study evaluates social, behavioral, and environmental determinants to differentiate between active and inactive asthma and how predisposing, enabling, and need factors elucidate asthma-related health services and asthma control among women in Puerto Rico. Methods: This study analyzed secondary cross-sectional data from a subsample of 625 adult females who participated in the Asthma Call Back Survey in Puerto Rico. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between explanatory variables and asthma outcomes. Results: In total, 63% of women reported active asthma, from which 37.9% have not well controlled or very poorly controlled asthma. Women with active asthma were significantly more likely to be out of work, have middle income (US$25,000–<US$35,000), and be obese (≥30 kg/m2). Perceived need of health status is a good predictor to know the odds ratio of women to use emergency room. Women with poorly controlled asthma were significantly associated with increased units of physician urgent visits and emergency room visits. Conclusion: The findings confirmed significant determinants for active asthma and adds information on odds ratio for sensitive subgroups that utilize asthma-related health services in higher proportion than their counterparts. These associations suggest a development of asthma management plan targeting women to control the condition and reduce health-care utilization.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document