Utilization of Primary and Secondary Medical Care Among Disadvantaged Populations: A Log-Linear Model Analysis

Global Journal of Health Science, Forthcoming

Posted: 28 Dec 2014

See all articles by Gregory Yom Din

Gregory Yom Din

Tel-Hai Academic College; Open University of Israel - Department of Management and Economics

Zinaida Zugman

Independent

Alla Khashper

Soroka University Medical Center

Date Written: May 1, 2014

Abstract

Aim: We examined how, where an overall population is covered by universal health insurance, characteristics of disadvantaged populations interact to influence inequality in primary and secondary medical care utilization.

Subject and Methods: Disadvantaged populations, the focus of the study, were defined as populations who have lower socio-economic status (SES), who are elderly and/or reside in a peripheral area. Data from the 2009 Israeli National Health Survey were analysed using log-linear models to estimate utilization of medical care.

Results: The main findings were: a) pro-poor utilization of primary medical care among elderly populations, with higher odds ratios for low SES populations in the periphery; (b) lack of interaction between SES and primary medical care utilization among younger populations, between SES and secondary medical care utilization among the elderly and pro-rich utilization of secondary medical care among younger populations who did not regularly visit general practitioners (GP); (c) the odds ratios of secondary medical care utilization increased as SES decreased for both elderly and younger populations who also regularly visited a GP.

Conclusion: Potential policy implications for disadvantaged populations, regarding possible inequality in primary and secondary medical care utilization, can be drawn using log-linear model analysis of interactions among characteristics (SES, age, location) of disadvantaged populations.

Keywords: medical care utilization, disadvantaged populations, equity, log-linear models

JEL Classification: I12, I18

Suggested Citation

Yom Din, Gregory and Zugman, Zinaida and Khashper, Alla, Utilization of Primary and Secondary Medical Care Among Disadvantaged Populations: A Log-Linear Model Analysis (May 1, 2014). Global Journal of Health Science, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2543259

Gregory Yom Din (Contact Author)

Tel-Hai Academic College ( email )

Upper Galilee
Galil Elyon, 12210
Israel

Open University of Israel - Department of Management and Economics ( email )

1 University Road
Raanana, 43107
Israel

Zinaida Zugman

Independent ( email )

Alla Khashper

Soroka University Medical Center ( email )

POB 151
First floor, Administration Building, Room 12
Beer Sheva
Israel

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