Socioeconomic inequalities in the access to health services: a population-based study in Southern Brazil

This article aims to measure socio-economic inequalities regarding access to health services, contact with health professionals, and specific health interventions. This was a cross-sec-tional population-based study with individuals aged 18 years or older, living in the city of Rio Grande. The outcomes were the following: Family Health Strategy (FHS) coverage; having a health insurance plan; receiving a visit of a communi-ty health worker; medical consultation; dental consultation; dietary counseling; having a class with a physical education professional; flu vac-cination; mammography, cytopathological and prostate exams. Relative and absolute measures were used to assess inequalities in the distribution of the outcomes. There was a response rate of 91% (1,300 adults were interviewed). Coverage indi-cators ranged from 16.1%, for having a class with a physical education professional, to 80.0% for medical consultation. FHS coverage and visit of a community health agent presented higher propor-tions among the poorest while outcomes regarding contact with health professionals, screening ex-ams and flu vaccine were more prevalent among richest group. We observed low coverage levels of access to health services and professionals in addi-tion to marked socioeconomic inequalities.