Study On The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Situation And Health Services Utilization Of Floating Women And Children In Shanghai

BackgroundsThe urban floating population increased continually with the incessant deepening of reform and opening-up as well as the rapid development of social economy. At present, it accounted for more than 10 percents of the whole population in our country.Most members of the floating population are employees, who have heavy work task, do job for a long time, and lack necessary protection. Besides, their living standard and health care conditions are extremely awful. All these factors affect their health. However, because they are usually poor, have very limited health care knowledge, and are short of social securities, and they receive health service at a low level.The floating women and children are in poorer condition. Most floating women got a little education, so they are usually engaged in the work which is simple but harmful. The floating children reside with their parents in bad living condition, so it is necessary to concern their health.To date, there are little researches to report health services utilization of floating women and children and also the relationship between status of social economy and health services utilization. As we know, the social economic status is a key factor affecting the health services utilization. Above all, it is necessary and significant to carry out the investigation of social economic status and health services utilization of floating women and children.ObjectivesWe investigated the floating women and children living in Pudong district, Zhabei district and Minhang district, to know their social economic status, health problems and heath services utilization, and to explore the relationship of social economic status and heath services utilization. In the end, we suggested strategies of enhancing health services utilization of floating women and children.Materials and methodsPudong district, Zhabei district and Minhang district were chosed as the investigation fields, while 1533 objects were investigated through multi-stage sampling, including 1180 floating women and 353 floating children. After inputting the data into database, we used the statistics software SPSS 16.0 for data processing and analyzing. The statistical methods we used included descriptive statistics, single and multiple factor analysis.Results1. The status of social economy of floating women and children was bad. According to the investigation, floating women and floating children had lower monthly income than that of Shanghai residents. About 40% of floating women and children had heavy family burden. Only 56.95% of floating women and 29.18% of floating children were covered by one medical insurance scheme.2. Floating women and children took health services utilization at a low level. The ratio who took outpatient services in the last two weeks was 2.88%(floating women) and 5.67%(floating children), respectively. The percents who take a inpatient hospitalization in the last year was 8.31%(floating women) and 1.42%(floating children), respectively.3. The utilization level of health service of floating women and children was low. The average days in hospital each year were 6.46d, significantly lower than the days of 22.9 of household population.4. Longer to stay in Shanghai, higher demand for health insurance coverage.5. The floating women and children having health insurance coverage had higher rate of health services utilization.6. There was no statistically significant difference in health services utilization for floating women and children with different family burden.Conclusions and Policy recommendations1. To improve the social economic status of floating women and children through multiple measurements.2. To set up an integrated healthcare delivery system, and provide more care to floating women and children.3. To strengthen the health education for the floating women and children.