Factors associated with health service utilization in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: a population-based survey.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding patterns of health service utilization can improve health care and increase use of health services. We examined patterns of health service utilization among residents of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. METHODS: A total of 500 adults were surveyed using paper-based questionnaires. The χ(2) test and multiple logistic regression were used to identify associations between factors. RESULTS: 44.1% of respondents had visited a physician during the previous 12 months. After controlling for determinants, the significant predictors of utilization of health service were attention to health examinations (OR = 3.6, CI 1.93-6.76), being married (OR = 2.7, CI 1.50-4.72), being satisfied with the overall cleanliness of the hospital (OR = 2.4, CI 1.12-5.19), being a nonsmoker (OR = 2.2, CI 1.21-3.98), having periodic physical examinations (OR = 2.2, CI 1.25-3.71), not being a hospital patient during the previous 3 years (OR = 2.1, CI 1.22-3.73), having proper documentation (OR = 1.9, CI 1.10-3.43), having medical insurance (OR = 1.9, CI 1.96-3.28), not wanting to receive information on food and nutrition (OR = 0.6, CI 0.36-0.96), having more than 5 household members (OR = 0.5, CI 0.50-0.85), low income (OR = 0.5, CI 0.30-0.85), lack of concern for food and nutrition (OR = 0.5, CI 0.28-0.84), self-medication during the past 12 months (OR = 0.4, CI 0.24-0.69), and desire for treatment abroad (OR = 0.4, CI 0.20-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: A number of health-related behaviors and sociodemographic factors were important predictors of health service utilization.