Study on the Utilization of Inpatient Services for Middle-Aged and Elderly Rural Females in Less Developed Regions of China.

Xiaotong Wen,Xiaojun Liu,Yong Liu,Yuanan Lu,Zhaokang Yuan,Mufeng Ouyang,Fang Yuan,Yuchen Liu,Yuxiao Sun,Huilie Zheng,Lanyue Cui,Huiqiang Yu

doi:10.3390/ijerph17020514

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the utilization of inpatient services and its contributing factors among middle-aged and elderly females (MAEF) in less developed rural regions. Five surveys were conducted between 2006 and 2014 with rural residents of Jiangxi by stratified cluster random sampling. Participant females included only those who were aged 45 and above. Complex sampling logistics analysis was performed to analyze the effect of three factors on inpatient service. Complex sampling logistics regression analysis revealed that the probability of hospitalization for the divorced or widowed females was significantly lower than that of married ones (aOR = 0.177, p < 0.05). However, the probability of early discharge was significantly higher among divorced or widowed females than married ones (aOR = 3.237, p < 0.05). In addition, females with chronic diseases were more likely to be hospitalized (aOR = 3.682, p < 0.05). Also, early discharge (aOR = 7.689, p < 0.05) occurred among the participants who should be hospitalized but were not hospitalized occurred (aOR = 3.258, p < 0.05). The continuous improvement of the new rural cooperative medical policy has promoted the utilization of inpatient services for the MAEF. Findings from this study emphasize the need to strengthen the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases among middle-aged and elderly women.

Highlights

There are still quite a few economically underdeveloped regions in China, which include 5 provinces in northwest China, 4 provinces in the southwest, and 8 in the central region
This paper examines the utilization of inpatient services and its influencing factors for middle-aged and elderly rural females in underdeveloped regions
The rate of hospitalization of middle-aged and elderly females in 2014 was higher than that in 2006, while the early discharge rate from hospital and rate of females who should be hospitalized but not hospitalized were lower than those reported in 2006. These findings indicate that the utilization of inpatient services for middle-aged and elderly females in rural underdeveloped areas was further promoted with time

Summary

Introduction

There are still quite a few economically underdeveloped regions in China, which include 5 provinces in northwest China, 4 provinces in the southwest, and 8 in the central region. The population of those regions accounts for 58.19% of China’s total population, of which the rural population accounts for 41.43% [1]. There is a certain economical gap between these less developed regions and the eastern coastal areas, with low per capita income and poor infrastructure construction. How to improve the health level of rural residents in less developed areas and achieve equalization of medical and health services have been a major concern [2,3,4]. Public Health 2020, 17, 514; doi:10.3390/ijerph17020514 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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