Impact of immigration on the cost of emergency visits in Barcelona (Spain)

Background  

The impact of immigration on health services utilisation has been analysed by several studies performed in countries with lower levels of immigration than Spain. These studies indicate that health services utilisation is lower among the immigrant population than among the host population and that immigrants tend to use hospital emergency services at the expense of primary care. We aimed to quantify the relative over-utilisation of emergency services in the immigrant population.     

Analysis of factors influencing the outpatient workload at Chinese health centres

Background  

Although the community health service system is now established in China, the utilisation of the community health service institutions is low due to the lack of a gate-keeping role of the primary health service providers and referrals among the three-tiered health service institutions. In addition to this, patients who can afford to pay, often seek best services in big hospitals to guarantee the quality of care. Thus, the need of guiding the patients to the community health services and increasing the utilisation of the community health service institutions is becoming an urgent problem, which hinders the future development of community health services. This study focuses on the question of how to increase the utilisation of Chinese community health centres (HCs).     

Temporal and geographic heterogeneity of the association between socioeconomic position and hospitalisation in Italy: an income based indicator

Background  

The inverse association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and health has been extensively explored in Italy; however few studies have been carried out on the relationship between income inequalities and health status or health services utilisation, particularly at a local level.     

Constraints to universal coverage: inequities in health service use and expenditures for different health conditions and providers

Background  

There is need for new information about the socio-economic and geographic differences in health seeking and expenditures on many health conditions, so to help to design interventions that will reduce inequity in utilisation of healthcare services and ensure universal coverage.     

Access to and utilisation of GP services among Burmese migrants in London: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Background  

An estimated 10,000 Burmese migrants are currently living in London. No studies have been conducted on their access to health services. Furthermore, most studies on migrants in the United Kingdom (UK) have been conducted at the point of service provision, carrying the risk of selection bias. Our cross-sectional study explored access to and utilisation of General Practice (GP) services by Burmese migrants residing in London.     

Measuring factors that influence the utilisation of preventive care services provided by general practitioners in Australia

Background  

Relatively little research attention has been given to the development of standardised and psychometrically sound scales for measuring influences relevant to the utilisation of health services. This study aims to describe the development, validation and internal reliability of some existing and new scales to measure factors that are likely to influence utilisation of preventive care services provided by general practitioners in Australia.     

Health services utilisation disparities between English speaking and non-English speaking background Australian infants

Background  

To examine the differences in health services utilisation and the associated risk factors between infants from non-English speaking background (NESB) and English speaking background (ESB) within Australia.     

Assessment of health care needs and utilization in a mixed public-private system: the case of the Athens area

Background  

Given the public-private mix of the Greek health system, the purpose of this study was to assess whether variations in the utilisation of health services, both primary and inpatient care, were associated with underlying health care needs and/or various socio-economic factors.     

Please understand when I cry out in pain: women's accounts of maternity services during labour and delivery in Ghana

Background  

This study was undertaken to investigate women's accounts of interactions with health care providers during labour and delivery and to assess the implications for acceptability and utilisation of maternity services in Ghana.     

Factors associated with dental visit and barriers to utilisation of oral health care services in a sample of antenatal mothers in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Background  

The aims of this study were to determine factors associated with dental visit and to describe barriers to utilisation of oral health care services among antenatal mothers attending the Obstetric and Gynaecology Specialist clinic in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.     

The contribution of demographic and morbidity factors to self-reported visit frequency of patients: a cross-sectional study of general practice patients in Australia

Background  

Understanding the factors that affect patients' utilisation of health services is important for health service provision and effective patient management. This study aimed to investigate the specific morbidity and demographic factors related to the frequency with which general practice patients visit a general practitioner/family physician (GP) in Australia.     

Comparison of self-reported health & healthcare utilisation between asylum seekers and refugees: an observational study

Background  

Adult refugees and asylum seekers living in Western countries experience a high prevalence of mental health problems, especially post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. This study compares and contrasts the prevalence of health problems, and potential risk factors as well as the utilisation of health services by asylum seekers and refugees in the Irish context.     

Under-reporting of inpatient services utilisation in household surveys -- a population-based study in Hong Kong

Background  

Recognising that household interviews may produce biased estimates of health services utilisation, we examined for under- and over-reporting of hospitalisation episodes in three recent, consecutive population-based household surveys in Hong Kong.     

Inequalities in health and health service utilisation among reproductive age women in St. Petersburg,Russia: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Russian society has faced dramatic changes in terms of social stratification since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During this time, extensive reforms have taken place in the organisation of health services, including the development of the private sector. Previous studies in Russia have shown a wide gap in mortality between socioeconomic groups. There are just a few studies on health service utilisation in post-Soviet Russia and data on inequality of health service use are limited. The aim of the present study was to analyse health (self-rated health and self-reported chronic diseases) and health care utilisation patterns by socioeconomic status (SES) among reproductive age women in St. Petersburg.     

Parental use of the Internet to seek health information and primary care utilisation for their child: a cross-sectional study

Background  

Using the Internet to seek health information is becoming more common. Its consequences on health care utilisation are hardly known in the general population, in particular among children whose parents seek health information on the Internet. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between parental use of the Internet to seek health information and primary care utilisation for their child.     

Uptake of health services for common mental disorders by first-generation Turkish and Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands

Background  

Migration and ethnic minority status have been associated with higher occurrence of common mental disorders (CMD), while mental health care utilisation by non-Western migrants has been reported to be low compared to the general population in Western host countries. Still, the evidence-base for this is poor. This study evaluates uptake of mental health services for CMD and psychological distress among first-generation non-Western migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.     

Factors affecting the use of maternal health services in Madhya Pradesh state of India: a multilevel analysis

Background  

Improving maternal health is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. It is widely accepted that the use of maternal health services helps in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. The utilization of maternal health services is a complex phenomenon and it is influenced by several factors. Therefore, the factors at different levels affecting the use of these services need to be clearly understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of individual, community and district level characteristics on the utilisation of maternal health services with special reference to antenatal care (ANC), skilled attendance at delivery and postnatal care (PNC).     

Unique health care utilization patterns in a homeless population in Ghent

Background  

Existing studies concerning the health care use of homeless people describe higher utilisation rates for hospital-based care and emergency care, and lower rates for primary care by homeless people compared to the general population. Homeless people are importantly hindered and/or steered in their health care use by barriers directly related to the organisation of care. Our goal is to describe the accessibility of primary health care services, secondary care and emergency care for homeless people living in an area with a universal primary health care system and active guidance towards this unique system.     

An analysis of trends and determinants of health insurance and healthcare utilisation in the Russian population between 2000 and 2004: the 'inverse care law' in action

Background  

The break-up of the USSR brought considerable disruption to health services in Russia. The uptake of compulsory health insurance rose rapidly after its introduction in 1993. However, by 2000 coverage was still incomplete, especially amongst the disadvantaged. By this time, however, the state health service had become more stable, and the private sector was growing. This paper describes subsequent trends and determinants of healthcare insurance coverage in Russia, and its relationship with health service utilisation, as well as the role of the private sector.     

Barrier,weakness and utilization of pre-pregnancy clinic services

Background

Despite being one of the plausible measures towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), various issues pertaining to pre-pregnancy clinic (PPC) services still need to be pondered upon. Based on this view, an attempt was made to identify and understand the barriers and weaknesses of current utilisation of pre-pregnancy care services, since its establishment and implementation in Sarawak from the year 2011.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in selected health care facilities throughout Sarawak. A multistage cluster sampling technique was followed to select the health facilities. An unstructured open-ended questionnaire was administered as a part of quantitative data analysis. The open-ended questions were administered to get the in-depth perceived views and current practice of utilisation of pre-pregnancy clinic services. A total of 553 clients from nine selected health care facilities gave their feedback. The results of the study were narrated in textual form and a thematic analysis was done manually.

Results

The identified themes for perceived barriers for utilisation of pre-pregnancy care were perception, attitude and acceptance of PPC services, socio-economic issues, services and client factors. The perceived weaknesses of the services are listed under two main themes: working environment and service factors, whereas, the strength of services produced three thematic areas which are preparation for pregnancy, prevention of mortality and morbidity and comprehensive services.

Conclusions

Though there is ample evidence that pre-pregnancy services are beneficial for maternal health and wellbeing, various issues still need to be addressed for the improvement of the quality of services. Lack of awareness among clients, socio-economic barriers, lack of resources, organisational barriers and perceptions towards family planning issues are some of the issues which need to be addressed. Nonetheless, promotional and health educational activities are important keys; in ensuring the sustainability of the services.