title: Access to health care in a rural area of the Philippines.
abstract: This study reports the results of a household survey requested by the mayor and community health officials in an under-served and understudied rural town in the Philippines. The study examines the extent and determinants of access to care. Results showed that 15% had a check-up in the previous year, despite 63% reporting a family history of chronic diseases. Multivariate regression analyses showed that having a usual source of care (P=.006) and education (P = .04) were predictors of having had a checkup the previous year. This study, which represents the first household survey assessing access to care in this rural Filipino population, provides empiric evidence supporting the need for health programs that will improve access to care and routine monitoring of chronic illness in this under-served, rural population.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston Health Science Center, USA. creyes@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Cielito C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Reyes-Gibby
authors.forename: Lu Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aday
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*