title: Determinants of health-service use by low-income people.
abstract: Poverty influences health status, life expectancy, health behaviours, and use of health services. This study examined factors influencing the use of health-related services by people living in poverty. In the first phase, 199 impoverished users of health-related services in 2 large Canadian cities were interviewed by their peers. In the second phase, group interviews with people living in poverty (n = 52) were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Diverse health-related services were used to meet basic and health needs, to maintain human contact, and to cope with life's challenges. Use of services depended on proximity, affordability, convenience, information, and providers' attitudes and behaviours. Use was impeded by inequities based on income status. To promote the health of people living in poverty, nurses and other health professionals can enhance the accessibility and quality of services, improve their interactions with people living in poverty, provide information about available programs, offer coordinated community-based services, collaborate with other sectors, and advocate for more equitable services and policies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. miriam.stewart@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reutter
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makwarimba
authors.forename: Irving
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rootman
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raine
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fast
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McFall
authors.forename: Deana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shorten
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Letourneau
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rutakumwa
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000191:economics*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009864:Ontario; D011203:Poverty