[Use of health services by a population of 60-year olds and older in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the sociodemographic characteristics and determinants of health services utilization by the Mexican population of 60 years of age or more.


METHODS
Information obtained from the National Health Survey II (ENSA-II) allowed analysis of 4,628 elderly people. Prevalence of chronic diseases was analyzed and the determinants of individuals who had used the health services in the two weeks prior to the interview.


RESULTS
The chronic diseases most frequently reported were: hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. The utilization and hospitalization rates of that age group were 11.4 and 5.5%, respectively. The services most frequently used were: the private physician, social security (IMSS, ISSSTE) welfare services (Ministry of Health--SSA- and IMSS-Solidaridad). Interestingly, 25 to 45% of social security insurance holders did not use the services, instead they consulted a private physician. The most important explanatory variables for health services utilization were: the perceived illness, not having worked for the previous week and being a social security insurance holder. Gender, area of residence and level of education were not significant in the explanation of health services utilization.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the need to strengthen preventive and support programs for the elderly population, since they only demand health services when they feel sick.
Borges-Yáñez
S A
SA
Dirección General de Epidemiología, Secretaría de Salud, México.
Gómez-Dantés
H
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
Uso de los servicios de salud por la población de 60 años y más en México.