Facteurs associes avec l'utilisation des soins de sante en milieu rural

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide a framework for understanding differential access to medical care for the population of the Eastern Township and to suggest ways to achieve equality of access. The framework is provided by a behavioral model of utilization of health services which suggests a sequence of predisposing, enabling and illness variables. These variables determine the number of times people will visit a physician. The model is rendered operational by using a path analysis technique. The data comes from a survey of the rural population in the Eastern Township conducted during the summer of 1978. The results suggest that services are generally equitably distributed because age and level of illness are the principal determinants of the number of services people receive. However, the inequality of access which does exist could be reduced by providing people who have no regular source of medical care with a personalized entry into the health service system.