Prospective patterns of modifiable health risk behaviors and the utilization of healthcare services in the "Health Workers Cohort Study" in Mexico

Foregone health care in adolescents from school and community settings in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Adolescence is a development period marked by the onset of a new set of health needs. The present study sought to quantify the prevalence of foregone care (not seeking medical care when needed) and identify which adolescents are at greater risk of having unmet healthcare needs.

Methods

A multi-stage random sampling strategy was used to recruit school participants (grade 10-12) in two provinces in Indonesia. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit out-of-school adolescents in the community. All participants completed a self-reported questionnaire which measured healthcare seeking behaviours, psychosocial wellbeing, use of healthcare services, and perceived barriers to accessing healthcare. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with foregone care.

Findings

A total of 2161 adolescents participated in the present study and nearly one in four adolescents reported foregone care in the past year. Experiences of poly-victimisation and seeking care for mental health needs increased the risk of foregone care. In-school adolescents who reported psychological distress [adjusted risk ratio (aRR) = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.48-2.38] or had high body mass index (aRR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.00-1.57) were at greater risk of foregone care. The leading reason for foregone care was lack of knowledge of available services. In-school adolescents predominantly reported non-access barriers to care (e.g., perception of the health concern or anxiety about accessing care) whereas most out-of-school adolescents reported access barriers (e.g., did not know where to get care or could not pay).

Interpretation

Foregone care is common among Indonesian adolescents, especially in adolescents with mental and physical health risks. Differences between in-school and out-of-school adolescents suggest that interventions to promote appropriate healthcare use will need tailoring. Further research is needed to determine causal relationships around barriers in access to healthcare.

Funding

Australia-Indonesia Centre.

Trends in equity of inpatient health service utilization for the middle-aged and elderly in China: based on longitudinal data from 2011 to 2018

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the trends in equity of receiving inpatient health service utilization (IHSU) in China over the period 2011-2018.

METHODS

Longitudinal data obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Studies were used to determine trends in receiving IHSU. Concentration curves, concentration indices, and horizontal inequity indices were applied to evaluate the trends in equity of IHSU.

RESULTS

This study showed that the annual rate of IHSU gradually increased from 7.99% in 2011 to 18.63% in 2018. Logistic regression shows that the rates of annual IHSU in 2018 were nearly 3 times (OR = 2.86, 95%CL: 2.57, 3.19) higher for rural respondents and 2.5 times (OR = 2.49, 95%CL: 1.99, 3.11) higher for urban respondents than the rates in 2011 after adjusting for other variables. Concentration curves both in urban and rural respondents lay above the line of equality from 2011 to 2018. The concentration index remained negative and increased significantly from - 0.0147 (95% CL: - 0.0506, 0.0211) to - 0.0676 (95% CL: - 0.0894, - 0.458), the adjusted concentration index kept the same tendency. The horizontal inequity index was positive in 2011 but became negative from 2013 to 2018, evidencing a pro-low-economic inequity trend.

CONCLUSIONS

We find that the inequity of IHSU for the middle-aged and elderly increased over the past 10 years, becoming more focused on the lower-economic population. Economic status, lifestyle factors were the main contributors to the pro-low-economic inequity. Health policies to allocate resources and services are needed to satisfy the needs of the middle-aged and elderly.