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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Matthew Prina
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2021.The objective of this research was to systematically review and synthesize quantitative studies that assessed the association between socioeconomic inequalities and primary health care (PHC) utilization among older people living in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Six databases were searched, including Embase, Medline, Psych Info, Global Health, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CNKI, to identify eligible studies. A narrative synthesis approach was used for evidence synthesis. A total of 20 eligible cross-sectional studies were included in this systematic review. The indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) identified included income level, education, employment/occupation, and health insurance. Most studies reported that higher income, higher educational levels and enrollment in health insurance plans were associated with increased PHC utilization. Several studies suggested that people who were unemployed and economically inactive in older age or who had worked in formal sectors were more likely to use PHC. Our findings suggest a pro-rich phenomenon of PHC utilization in older people living in LMICs, with results varying by indicators of SES and study settings.
Author(s): Gao Q, Prina AM, Ma Y, Aceituno D, Mayston R
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Health Services
Year: 2022
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 99-114
Print publication date: 01/01/2022
Online publication date: 21/10/2021
Acceptance date: 14/07/2021
ISSN (print): 0020-7314
ISSN (electronic): 1541-4469
Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00207314211041234
DOI: 10.1177/00207314211041234
PubMed id: 34672829
