Socioeconomic inequity in access to health care: a study of services utilization in Curacao - abstract

ABSTRACT

This study examines whether there is socioeconomic equity in health care utilization in Curacao. We explore how education level is related to utilization of various health services, taking into account the effects of sex, age, and inequalities in health. The study also examines whether these relationships vary according to the unit of analysis; probability (or incidence) of services use versus overall volume contacts. The data was derived from the "Curacao health study", a health interview survey among a random sample (n=2248) of the non-institutionalized population 18 years and over. The results indiacte that there is socio-economic inequalities in health (need for care) is taken into account. In other words greater need for services are not met by greater use (vertical equity) and similar needs for care are not met by similar levels of service use (horizontal inequity). The volume of use (i.e. the number of consultations with a care provider, once a person has entered the health care system) appears to be fairly equitable. The observed inequalities in probability of specialist and health utilization contrast with findings from international research. The outcomes of this study underline the importance of health care reforms in order to attain more equitatble access to health care. (AU)