FACTORS THAT TAKE PART IN THE USAGE OF THE HEALTH SERVICES FROM SENIOR ADULTS

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate factors that could restrict or favour the usage between the Community Health Centers and Others Health Institutions (Social Security, Private Consult and others) by senior adults aged 60 and over living in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Methodology: It was made from June 2003 to April 2004. The reference population was 7370 adults over 60 years old that lived under the adscription zone of 16 Community Health Centers that care of the jurisdiction number 2 in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Our selection was 1051 people by a conglomerate sampling in two levels. We applied a survey designed by OMS/OPS 2000. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The probability to use the Community Health Services versus not using them increases when the senior adults do not have social securitybenefits and live alone and decrease when they have permanent salary and have basic services at home. The probability to use Others Health Institutions versus not using them decrease when senior adult does not have social security benefits, do not have nutrition risk or it is moderate, the quality of the attention is defiiient and have little or moderate family support. Conclusion: The factors that could favour the usage of the Community Centers are when the senior adults do not have social security benefits; they do not have a permanent salary; their home have basic services and live alone. However, factors when senior adults have Social Security Benefits and the quality of the attention is good could favour the use of Others Health Institutions.