OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of health services and associated factors in health care centers of the Ministry of Health of Peru (MINSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ecological study was conducted with information from outpatients placed in all health centers from all Regions at the national level from 2009-2011. The use of health services was defined by the proportion of outpatient and the total population. This variable was compared by gender, age group, geographic area, and calendar year. Chi-square test was performed to compare proportions between the different layers. In addition, linear regression was performed to determine factors associated. RESULTS: In this period of time there was an increased number of health care centers and health insurance coverage, but the use of health services decreased from 43.3% (2009) to 40.3% (2011). An increased use by female residents, age group of 0-29 years old and residents from the southern region was found. A multivariate analysis was conducted and factors associated with use of health systems were geographic area, and calendar year. CONCLUSIONS: Use of health services is not associated to the increased number of health centers nor the access to health insurance, but it is associated to individual factors or health system-related factors that should be evaluated in future studies.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of health services and associated factors in health care centers of the Ministry of Health of Peru (MINSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ecological study was conducted with information from outpatients placed in all health centers from all Regions at the national level from 2009-2011. The use of health services was defined by the proportion of outpatient and the total population. This variable was compared by gender, age group, geographic area, and calendar year. Chi-square test was performed to compare proportions between the different layers. In addition, linear regression was performed to determine factors associated. RESULTS: In this period of time there was an increased number of health care centers and health insurance coverage, but the use of health services decreased from 43.3% (2009) to 40.3% (2011). An increased use by female residents, age group of 0-29 years old and residents from the southern region was found. A multivariate analysis was conducted and factors associated with use of health systems were geographic area, and calendar year. CONCLUSIONS: Use of health services is not associated to the increased number of health centers nor the access to health insurance, but it is associated to individual factors or health system-related factors that should be evaluated in future studies.
Authors: Reneé Pereyra-Elías; Percy Mayta-Tristán; Juan José Montenegro-Idrogo; Christian R Mejia; Gabriel Abudinén A; Rita Azucas-Peralta; Jorge Barrezueta-Fernandez; Luis Cerna-Urrutia; Adrián DaSilva-DeAbreu; Alvaro Mondragón-Cardona; Geovanna Moya; Christian D Valverde-Solano; Rhanniel Theodorus-Villar; Maribel Vizárraga-León Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-07-14 Impact factor: 3.240