[Disparities in participation in health examination by socio-economic position among adult Seoul residents].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the disparity in the rate people undergo health examinations according to socioeconomic position (SEP) and the changes in this disparity with time.


METHODS
Seoul citizens' health profile data from 1997 to 2005 were analyzed. The study subjects were 40 years old and over, and the total number of subjects was 6,601 in 1997, 8,994 in 2001, and 8,819 in 2005. Those aged 60 years and over were eliminated from the analysis of subjects' occupation. We used education, family income and occupation as indicators of SEP. The age-standardized health examination attendance rate for each year was calculated according to the education, family income and occupation. The odds ratios (ORs) from multiple logistic regressions were adjusted for age.


RESULTS
The disparity in the rate of attendance according to the SEP decreased from 1997 to 2005 but still existed. Even though the disparities among the subgroups according to education, family income and occupation were not that high, the disparity between the group with the highest SEP and the other groups was considerable.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that unequal access to health examination services according to socioeconomic position still exists. This disparity has decreased recently but the disparity according to level of education was the greatest.
Chun
Eun-jeong
EJ
School of Public Health, Seoul National University.
Jang
Soong-Nang
SN
Cho
Sung-Il
SI
Cho
Youngtae
Y
Moon
Ok-Ryun
OR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors