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Socio-economic inequalities in health services utilization: a cross-sectional study

Mohammad Ranjbar Ezzatabadi (Health Policy Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran)
Ameneh Khosravi (School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran)
Mohammad Amin Bahrami (Medical University, Yazd, Iran)
Sima Rafiei (Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran)

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance

ISSN: 0952-6862

Article publication date: 12 February 2018

344

Abstract

Purpose

Developing country workers mainly face important challenges when examining equality in health services utilization among the population and identifying influential factors. The purpose of this paper us to: understand health service use among households with different socio-economic status in Isfahan province; and to investigate probable inequality determinants in service utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

Almost 1,040 households living in Isfahan province participated in this cross-sectional study in 2013. Data were collected by a questionnaire with three sections: demographic characteristics; socio-economic status; and health services utilization. The concentration index was applied to measure inequality. Analysts used STATA 11.

Findings

Economic status, educational level, insurance coverage and household gender were the most influential factors on health services utilization. Those with a high socio-economic level were more likely to demand and use such services; although self-medication patterns showed an opposite trend.

Practical implications

Female-headed families face with more difficulties in access to basic human needs including health. Supportive policies are needed to meet their demands.

Originality/value

The authors used principle component analysis to assess households’ economic situation, which reduced the variables into a single index.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the hospital managers and personnel working in Isfahan Medical Sciences University who provided data.

Citation

Ranjbar Ezzatabadi, M., Khosravi, A., Bahrami, M.A. and Rafiei, S. (2018), "Socio-economic inequalities in health services utilization: a cross-sectional study", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 69-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-04-2017-0059

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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