Inequalities in the utilization of psychiatric and psychological services in Catalonia: a multilevel approach.
The aim of this study was to analyze individual and contextual inequalities in psychiatrist and psychologist visits in Catalonia. This is a multilevel cross-sectional study using data from the 2006 Catalan Health Interview Survey (n = 15,554). 5.3 % of men and 9.0 % of women visited a psychologist and/or psychiatrist in the last 12 months. People aged 65 years or over were less likely to have visited these professionals and those with a supplemental private health insurance had a higher proportion of having visited. Moreover, people living in lower density regions were less likely to have visited, independently of their level of need. There is a need to develop policies for reducing inequalities in access by people with public health insurance and living in lower density areas.
Departament de Psicologia Clinica i de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023, Barcelona, Spain. katiabonesrocha@gmail.com
Kátia B
KB
Rocha
Maica
M
Rodríguez-Sanz
Katherine
K
Pérez
Jordi E
JE
Obiols
Carme
C
Borrell
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry; D011584:Psychology; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult