[Utilization of health services by febrile patients in a malaria transmission area in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze primary health care service (PHCS) utilization by febrile patients in a malarial area of Mexico.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in September, 1993, in 32 communities of Tabasco (decentralized health services) and Campeche (non-decentralized) states. Predictors of utilization were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
817 febrile patients received care at home 55% of all febrile patients received care at home (SELF), 16.5% by PHCS and 17% by volunteer collaborators, with no significant differences in health services utilization between states. Febrile patients living in communities where PHCS was available used these facilities 11 times more than those without PHCS (C.I. 95%: 7.0-18.2%). Severely febrile patients used PHCS 2.8 times more than mild-moderate cases (C.I. 95%: 1.7-4.6%). Febrile patients under 13 years of age used PHCS 1.9 times more than older patients. Two per cent of febrile patients consisted of malaria cases.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference between decentralized and non-decentralized health services regarding the utilization of PHCS. Fever symptoms must be evaluated as a single screening indicator of malarial disease.
Leyva-Flores
R
R
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México.
Erviti-Erice
J
J
Kageyama-Escobar
L
L
Gallardo-Díaz
E
E
Lara-Rodríguez
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000628:therapy; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors