Prevalence of Unmet Healthcare Needs in Adolescents and Associated Factors: Data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018).

Hyeran Park,Jeongok Park

doi:10.3390/ijerph182312781

Abstract

Adolescent health is considered the basis of adult health, and the unmet healthcare needs in adolescents are an important issue to be solved. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs, and examine its associated factors among adolescents in Korea based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services, using data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 to 2018). This survey’s data source comprised 12- to 18-year-old adolescents, of which 1425 provided information on their unmet healthcare needs, as well as their predisposing, enabling, and need factors. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 25.0 was used. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess each variable, whereas multiple logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors. The overall prevalence of unmet healthcare needs was 5.5%. The factors that had statistically significant relationships with adolescents’ unmet healthcare needs were: age; stress perceptions; housing types; and perceived health status. Unlike previous studies that presented related factors on vulnerable groups, this study’s results presented unmet healthcare needs and related factors for all Korean adolescents using a national survey dataset. Hence, its findings could provide feedback on current policies, and guide future studies.

Highlights

Adolescence is considered the healthiest period of the life cycle, with the lowest medical expenses incurred [1]
The current study aimed to explore the prevalence of Korean adolescents’ unmet healthcare needs, and examine their associated factors, based on Andersen’s Behavioral
An interesting finding in this study was that the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs in Korean adolescents was relatively high compared with those in other countries

Summary

Introduction

Adolescence is considered the healthiest period of the life cycle, with the lowest medical expenses incurred [1]. Health in childhood and adolescence is considered to be one of the factors that directly or indirectly affects socioeconomic status, such as individual educational achievements, labor market performance, and economic performance in adulthood [3,4]. Maintaining good health among adolescents is important at the individual level, and at the country level. The concept of unmet healthcare needs is defined as a state in which individuals do not have access to health care when it is needed [5]. Receiving medical care when needed is one of the important effects on health outcomes, especially in adolescents, since unmet healthcare needs predict poor health conditions in adulthood. A longitudinal study in the US found that adolescents who reported unmet healthcare needs were more likely to report poor general health, functional impairment, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideations as adults, compared with adolescents with a similar sociodemographic background, health insurance coverage, and health status, but no unmet

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion