[Eye care services evaluation in a low-income urban population of São Paulo City--Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate eye care services from the user's perspective in a low income population from the east zone of the city of São Paulo--Brazil.


METHODS
A household survey was performed using cluster sampling in three low income districts of the city of São Paulo--Brazil. From July/2004 to January/2005, 1055 interviews with an adult household representative were carried and an eye care system responsiveness questionnaire was administered through individual interview.


RESULTS
71.56% of the participants were women. Respondents' age ranged from 18 to 92 years (41.42 +/- 15.67 years). Regarding schooling, 525 (49.77%) had four years or less; 489 (46.35%) between five and eleven years, 40 (3.79%) had eleven or more years of study. Eye care services need was reported as 712 (67.49%) declaring themselves or someone else of the household needing and obtaining services and 135 (12.80%) had never needed eye care. The most frequently cited barriers to obtain the eye care service by respondents was cost (77.29%), followed by unsuccessful attempt to obtain eye care (42.21%). General satisfaction for the criteria contained in the questionnaire was 63.37%. In the 36.63% dissatisfied respondents, the most frequently cited claim was the amount of time waited before consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
The main barriers to obtain eye care services were cost of medical appointment and lack of access to the services. 63.37% of the individuals in need who had received eye care in last 12 months were satisfied with the service provided.
Pereira
Josenilson Martins
JM
Setor de Eletrofisiologia Visual Clínica, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. jpereiraarthur@yahoo.com.br
Salomão
Solange Rios
SR
Cinoto
Rafael Werneck
RW
Mendieta
Luana
L
Sacai
Paula Yuri
PY
Berezovsky
Adriana
A
Belfort
Rubens
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult