2007, Number S4
<< Back Next >>
salud publica mex 2007; 49 (S4)
Health care utilization among older Mexicans: health and socioeconomic inequalities
Wong R, Díaz JJ
Language: English
References: 16
Page: 505-514
PDF size: 179.06 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To examine the determinants of the utilization of health care services among the population of older adults in Mexico. Three types of health care services are analyzed: preventive care, visits to the doctor, and hospitalizations.
Material and Methods. Data was used from the 2001 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS/ENASEM) and estimates were made using multivariate probit regression methods.
Results. Socioeconomic factors, health conditions reported by the individuals, and the availability of health insurance are significant determinants of the differential use of services by older adults.
Conclusion. Specific health conditions are important determinants of use of the various types of health care services. For all three types, however, the availability of health insurance is an enabling factor of health care use. Older age is associated with greater propensity to use health care services but its effect is small when controlling for health conditions.
REFERENCES
Consejo Nacional de Población. Envejecimiento de la población de México: reto del Siglo XXI. México, DF: CONAPO, 2005.
Lozano RC, Infante L, Frenk J. Desigualdad, pobreza y salud en México [Inequality, poverty, and health in Mexico]. Mexico, DF: Consejo Consultivo del Programa Nacional de Solidaridad, 1993.
Garrido-Latorre F, Ramírez-Villalobos D, Gómez-Dantés H. Epidemiología del envejecimiento en México. In: Envejecimiento Demográfico de México: retos y perspectivas. México, DF: CONAPO, 1999: 265-278.
Cárdenas R. Mortalidad adulta en México 1979-1990: análisis por causa, entidad federativa y género [Adult mortality in Mexico: Analysis by cause, state and gender]. Mexico, DF: UNAM, 1996.
Bobadilla JL, Possas C. Health policy issues in three Latin American countries: Implications of the epidemiological transition. In: Gribble JN, Preston SH. The epidemiological transition: Policy and planning implication for developing countries. Washington, DC: National Academy Press,1993.
Palloni A, Pinto G, Peláez M. Demographic and health conditions of ageing in Latin America.Int J Epidemiol 2002;31:762-771.
Parker SW, Wong R. Welfare of male and female elderly in Mexico: a Comparison. In: The economics of gender in Mexico. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2001.
Ham-Chande R. El envejecimiento en México: el siguiente reto de la transición demográfica. México, DF: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, 2003.
Parker SW, Wong R. Household income and health care expenditures in Mexico. Health Policy1997; 40:237-255.
Ordorica M. Supervivencia y muerte en la población mayor: grandes cambios en las causas de muerte de los mayores. Demos. Carta demográfica sobre México 2001. México, DF: Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales/Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2001:10-12.
Gómez H, Vázquez JL, Fernández S. La salud de los adultos mayores en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. In: Muñoz O, García C, Durán L. La salud del adulto mayor en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. México, DF: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2004: 45-61.
Wong R. La relación entre salud y nivel socioeconómico entre adultos mayores: diferencias por género. In: Salgado N, Wong R. Envejeciendo en la pobreza: género, salud y calidad de vida. México, DF: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 2003:97-122.
Wong R, Figueroa ME. Morbilidad y utilización de servicios de salud entre población de edad avanzada: Un análisis comparativo [Morbidity and use of health services among the elderly: A comparative analysis]. Papeles de Población 1999; 5(19):103-124.
Wong R, Espinoza M, Palloni A. Adultos mayores mexicanos en contexto socioeconómico amplio: salud y envejecimiento. Salud Publica Mex 2007;49:436-447.
Wong R, Espinoza M. Ingreso y bienes de la población de edad media y avanzada en México [Income and assets of population in middle- and old-age in Mexico]. Papeles de Población 2003;37.
Wong R, Peláez M, Palloni A. Self-reported global health in Latin America and the Caribbean: the usefulness of the indicator. Panamerican Journal of Public Health 2005.
Full text