Use of Health Care Services and Associated Factors among Women

Background: To estimate the prevalence and analyze factors associated with both public and private health services utilization in women population in a western district of Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1200 individuals aged 18-49 years carried out in different districts of Sanandaj City, western Iran, in 2012. The main outcome variable was use of health service in the previous 12 months. The independent variables were age, education level, place of residence, marital and pregnancy status, household wealth, occupation and duration time of employment, and rating of quality of health services. Results: The prevalence of public and private health services utilization were 60.8% [95% CI: 57.8, 63.8] and 53.8% [95% CI: 50.8%, 56.8%], respectively (P=0.001). After controlling other investigated factors using logistic regression; the academic educational level (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.80; OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.33, 2.33), residents of urban (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.47; OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.42), pregnancy status (OR=2.38, 95% CI: 1.60, 3.55; OR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.61, 3.47), and high level of quality of health services (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.27; OR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.40) were found to be predictors of utilization of both public and private health care respectively. There was also statistically relation between high level of household wealth (OR=3.01, 95% CI: 2.00, 4.57) and private health services utilization. Conclusions: Prevalence of health services utilization varied according to the individual and social factors of population studied. Present study emphasizes the need to develop care models that focus on the characteristics and demands of the subjects.