Abstract
BackgroundTo examine the differences in health services utilisation and the associated risk factors between infants from non-English speaking background (NESB) and English speaking background (ESB) within Australia.MethodsWe analysed data from a national representative longitudinal study, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) which started in 2004. We used survey logistic regression coupled with survey multiple linear regression to examine the factors associated with health services utilisation.ResultsSimilar health status was observed between the two groups. In comparison to ESB infants, NESB infants were significantly less likely to use the following health services: maternal and child health centres or help lines (odds ratio [OR] 0.56; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.40-0.79); maternal and child health nurse visits (OR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.95); general practitioners (GPs) (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.83); and hospital outpatient clinics (OR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.93). Multivariate analysis results showed that the disparities could not be fully explained by the socioeconomic status and language barriers. The association between English proficiency and the service utilised was absent once the NESB was taken into account. Maternal characteristics, family size and income, private health insurance and region of residence were the key factors associated with health services utilisation.ConclusionsNESB infants accessed significantly less of the four most frequently used health services compared with ESB infants. Maternal characteristics and family socioeconomic status were linked to health services utilisation. The gaps in health services utilisation between NESB and ESB infants with regard to the use of maternal and child health centres or phone help, maternal and child health nurse visits, GPs and paediatricians require appropriate policy attentions and interventions.
Highlights
To examine the differences in health services utilisation and the associated risk factors between infants from non-English speaking background (NESB) and English speaking background (ESB) within Australia
Our study aimed to explore the disparities of health status and health services utilisation between NESB and ESB infants (3-18 months) in Australia, and to investigate the factors associated with the use of health services
Health services utilisation data was available for 4074 infants consisting of 3700 ESB infants and 374 NESB infants
Summary
To examine the differences in health services utilisation and the associated risk factors between infants from non-English speaking background (NESB) and English speaking background (ESB) within Australia. An equitable use of health care amongst cultural and linguistic minority populations is one of the important goals within health care systems [1]. Jacobs and colleagues concluded that language barriers have negative consequences for linguistic minorities in accessing health care [4]. People who mainly speak a language other than English have been considered a disadvantaged group with reduced access to government and community programs and services in Australia [16]. Given the different health care funding programs and systems amongst various English-speaking countries, as well as the composition of different minority ethnic groups in NESB populations, it is difficult to generalise the study findings of child health services utilisation from the US, Canada and the UK to the Australian context
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