title: Mothers' perceptions of access to medical care for children in Otago.
abstract: Three hundred urban and 350 rural mothers were surveyed about their subjective perceptions of the availability of a doctor for their child. A third of rural mothers and a quarter of urban mothers expressed concern about lack of access. Shared parenting, a high socioeconomic status of mother and her partner and further training on leaving school, were associated with a greater satisfaction with existing services. Mothers with chronic psychiatric morbidity were more likely to express concern. Approximately one quarter of mothers expressed satisfaction with services overall. Specific improvements for child health services included reduced costs and waiting times together with an increase in the range of services available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Romans-Clarkson
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009520:New Zealand; D012424:Rural Population; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population