Desigualdades no uso e acesso aos serviços de saúde entre idosos do município de São Paulo

Resumo

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated to inequalities in access to health care services and utilization for the elderly. METHODS: Study part of the Health, Well-being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE) Survey that included 2,143 elderly individuals aged 60 or older in the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, in 2000. A two-step sampling procedure with probability proportional to size was carried out using census tracts with replacement. To achieve the desired number of respondents aged 75 or older, additional households close to the selected census tracts were sampled. Access to health services and utilization were measured for outpatient and hospital services during a 4-month period prior to the interview, and correlated to factors related to ability, need and predisposition (total income, schooling, health insurance, reported medical condition, self-perception, gender and age).Multivariate logistic regression was performed in the analysis. RESULTS: Of all respondents, 4.7% reported being hospitalized and 64.4% seeking outpatient care in the four months prior to the study. As for public outpatient care provided, 24.7% were in hospital clinics and 24.1% in other public outpatient services. As for private care, 14.5% received care in hospitals and 33.7% in health clinics. The multivariate analysis showed an association between health service utilization and sex, medical condition, self-perceived health, income, schooling, and health insurance. However, an inverse effect was found for the variable schooling. CONCLUSIONS: The study results show inequalities in access to health services and utilization as well as a deficient health care system. Public policies should take into account the specific needs of the elderly population to facilitate access to health care services and reduce inequalities.

Ficha do documento

Tipo

Artigo científico

Ano

2008

Instituição

Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo

Fonte

Repositório da FGV

Idioma

Português

Acesso

Acesso aberto

DOI

10.1590/S0034-89102008000400021

Identificador

oai:repositorio.fgv.br:10438/21183

Temas

Políticas PúblicasSaúdeGestão Municipal

Palavras-chave

Health of the elderlyHealth inequalitiesHealth servicesHospitalizationEquity in accessHealth services needs and demandSaúde do idosoDesigualdades em saúdeServiços de saúdeHospitalizaçãoEqüidade no acessoNecessidades e demandas de serviços de saúdeSalud del ancianoDesigualdades en la saludServicios de saludHospitalizaciónEquidad en el accesoNecesidades y demandas de servicios de saludSaúdeServiços de saúde - São Paulo (SP)Idosos