Evaluation of factors which affect the use of health care facilities

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate factors which affect the use of health care facilities.
Methods: This is a descriptive study and was conducted on 210 women presenting to Esentepe Health Clinic between December 2006 and May 2007. Questionnaires composed of questions about socio-demographic features, perceived health status and the use of health care facilities were used to collect data. The dependent variable tested was the use of health care facilities and independent variables tested were occupation of the breadwinner in each household, income, education, health insurance and perceived health status. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses.
Results: The breadwinner had a low social status in 59% of the households, 46.2% of the women were primary school graduates, 57.1% had an income less than their expenses and 69.5% did not have a health insurance. Sixty-one point nine percent of the women had a poor perceived health status, 51,9% used preventive health care facilities and  61% used treatment facilities. A good well-paid job, high income and health insurance increased the use of preventive health care facilities by 2,91 times (p<0.01), 1.91 times (p<0.05) and 2 times (p<0.01) respectively. A good well-paid job and health insurance increased the use of treatment facilities by 0.51 times (p<0.01) and 2.31 times (p<0.001) respectively. However, they did not affect perceived health status (p>0.05).
Conclusions: In view of the results of this study, it can be recommended that nurses should give priority to people with a low social status in the delivery of health care facilities, direct them to job centres or help them to be productive at home and provide preventive health care facilities particularly for women with a low income. Individuals without a health insurance should be offered free health care as well.