Socioeconomic and demographic correlates of medical care and health practices
Rao, P.S.; Richard, J.
Journal of Biosocial Science 16(3): 343-355
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 6470017 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000015169Document Number: 407468
using a 2-stage stratified sampling procedure, a random sample of 1021 rural families in North Arcot District of Tamil Nadu State in South India was studied to determine the interrelationships of utilization of medical care and health behavior with social, demographic and economic factors. Distance from a town, education, and accessibility of medical facilities seem to play a prominent role in the various decision making processes. 81.5% of respondents preferred only home treatment for common ailments at the initial stages of the disease. Of the remainder 1/2 preferred to go to a hospital and the other 1/2 chose a qualified physician. If the ailment persisted, 53% preferred to go to a hospital and 43% to a physician. The 1st choice for outside medical care for 44.8% of the respondents was a private medical practitioner, for 42.9% it was the government hospital and for the remaining 11.4% it was a nearly clinic or private hospital. In 88% of the cases, the head of the household met all the expenses. In only 4% of the cases were the expenses met by the employer or through another arrangement. Nearly 2/3 of the respondents agreed and 2i% disagreed that treatment would be better if provided free of cost and most thought it would be improved if health facilities were situated within the village itself. At the initial stages of common ailments some 90% of those residing within 5 km from a town said that they would treat themselves at home. If the ailment persisted, 52.4% preferred to go to the hospital and 43.7% to approach a physician. Only 63.7% of those living beyond 10 km from town preferred home treatment during early stages, and when the ailment persisted, 45% preferred the hospital while 55% preferred to approach a physician. 90% of respondents with lower incomes preferred home treatment for common ailments in the initial stages, compared to 56% of those with higher incomes. The proportion choosing a private medical practitioner as the 1st choice is much lower in the lowest income groups than in the highest income group. Those in the upper income groups preferred the source of medical care where they could get quick relief; lower income groups preferred the source of free services. The proportion who said they would approach a physician even during the initial stages of ailments increased significantly with education. The proportion whose 1st choice was a government hospital declined as education increased.