title: [Prevalence and factors associated with hospital admissions in a population-based study in a southern Brazilian city].
abstract: This cross-sectional study investigates the use of health services and associated factors in individuals > or = 14 years of age in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 1,954 persons were interviewed in 40 census tracts. One-year prevalence of hospital admissions was 9.4%. Adjusted data analysis showed that hospitalization was associated with: age > or = 60 years (RP = 4.14; 95% CI: 2.07-8.25), physician visit in the previous two months (RP = 2.79; 95%CI: 2.03-3.83), and > or = 2 stressful life events (RP = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.19-2.80). Individual income of > or = 2.10 times the prevailing minimum wage was associated with decreased likelihood of hospitalization (RP = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.41-0.87). Prevalence of hospital admissions was consistent with other studies. Higher prevalence of hospitalization in lower-income groups may indicate decreased access to primary health care. Other possible factors are higher morbidity and severity of diseases among lower-income groups. Future research should focus on the relationship between morbidity and stressful life events.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ligia Regina
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Garbinato
authors.forename: Jorge Umberto
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Béria
authors.forename: Andréia Cristina Leal
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raymann
authors.forename: Luciana Petrucci
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: Lilian dos Santos
authors.initials: Ldos S
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: Denise Rangel Ganzo de Castro
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Aerts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data