[Access by hearing-disabled individuals to health services in a southern Brazilian city].
This cross-sectional study aimed to compare access to health services and preventive measures by persons with hearing disability and those with normal hearing in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The sample included 1,842 individuals 15 years or older (52.9% of whom were females). The most frequent income bracket was twice the minimum wage or more, or approximately U$360/month (42.7%). Individuals with hearing disability were more likely to have visited a physician in the previous two months (PR = 1.3, 95%CI: 1.10-1.51) and to have been hospitalized in the previous 12 months (PR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.42-3.14). Regarding mental health, individuals with hearing disability showed 1.5 times greater probability of health care due to mental disorders and 4.2 times greater probability of psychiatric hospitalization as compared to those with normal hearing. Consistent with other studies, women with hearing disability performed less breast self-examination and had fewer Pap smears. The data indicate the need to invest in specific campaigns for this group of individuals with special needs.
Freire
Daniela Buchrieser
DB
Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Brasil. daniela.buchrieser@gmail.com
Gigante
Luciana Petrucci
LP
Béria
Jorge Umberto
JU
Palazzo
Lílian dos Santos
Ldos S
Figueiredo
Andréia Cristina Leal
AC
Raymann
Beatriz Carmen Warth
BC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult