title: Sex-specific differences in prevalence and in the factors associated to the search for health services in a population based epidemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the access to health care services and associated factors in adults living in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study with a sample developed in three stages. The variability introduced in the third sampling fraction was corrected by the attribution of weights, resulting in a sample of 2,471 participants. The outcome prevalence was estimated according to socio-demographic, behavioral and health-related variables. In order to identify associated factors, the regression of Poisson was used, obtaining crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. All estimates were calculated taking into account the effect of the sampling design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcome prevalence increased according to the age, being higher in female individuals. A different set of variables remained in the final models, considering each gender separately. Among men, the monthly income > R$ 1,400.00; scores > 823.6 to the Economic Indicator of Ribeirão Preto (IERP) and daily average of sitting down time (154.4 - 240 min/day) constituted themselves into protective factors, whereas the increase of age and scholarship, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension constituted risk factors for the use of the services. Among women, health self-reported as regular, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension characterized factors positively associated to the outcome at matter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate the need for planning actions aimed at capturing male individuals, as well as the revaluation of detection and control of diabetes and hypertension programs, aimed at the primary prevention of terminal cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Child Nursing and Public Health, School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzana Alves
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniele Almeida
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Child Nursing and Public Health, School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Martins
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: de Freitas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health