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Distance as a determinant of health services utilization by the community based health insured people

Authors:G.M. Venkatesh , Siddharthan. S Metri
Int J Biol Med Res. 2011; 2(3): 835-837  |  PDF File

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This research focuses on the accessibility of health services to the insured population in the district. Most of the District is served by the medical college hospital situated in the epicentre of the district headquarter. The objective of the research was to determine if there is negative a correlation between frequency of insured in-patient visits to specialist-clinics at SJCH and the patient’s geographical distance which reflect inequality of health services. METHOD: A pre-tested questionnaire was developed and evaluated on 2398 beneficiaries. RESULTS: Majority of beneficiaries were females in the age group 21-30 years with Obstetrics and Gynaecological complaints and the data demonstrates that distance is negatively correlated ( r = - 0.89)with the number of visits to specialty clinics. Conclusion: The research shows that greater distance has a clear cut negative influence on health service utilization even among the insured, and results in inequality in access to health service by peripheral populations.