title: Child health and health care utilisation. A community-based survey in Mitchell's Plain, CP.
abstract: A community-based study of proxy-reported illness and health care use by children under 15 years of age in Mitchell's Plain, CP, is reported. The most commonly reported acute illness was respiratory infection and the most commonly reported chronic illness was asthma. There are estimated to be 1.82 consultations/child/year for acute illness. Fifty per cent of first-contact acute care was provided by private general practitioners. The public sector provided the remainder, and also care for the more severe acute illness and treated chronic illness. Medical aid was an important determinant of access to after-hours care. There is a need for an extended after-hours public sector service and similar studies elsewhere would be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Lachman
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zwarenstein
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D006304:Health Status; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009017:Morbidity; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires