The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey
BackgroundThere is a dearth of research on the nature and extent of variation in patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. This is an important gap in knowledge, given ongoing efforts to improve service provision and delivery. This study examined the relationship between the region of residenc...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1252340/full |
| _version_ | 1797635680326647808 |
|---|---|
| author | Motab Aljohani Motab Aljohani Michael Donnelly Ibrahim Al Sumaih Ciaran O'Neill |
| author_facet | Motab Aljohani Motab Aljohani Michael Donnelly Ibrahim Al Sumaih Ciaran O'Neill |
| author_sort | Motab Aljohani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThere is a dearth of research on the nature and extent of variation in patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. This is an important gap in knowledge, given ongoing efforts to improve service provision and delivery. This study examined the relationship between the region of residence and socio-demographic factors and patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia.MethodsData were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS), a national multistage survey of individuals aged 15 years and above in Saudi Arabia. Data included measures of service use, respondent health, socio-demographic characteristics, and region or area of residence. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to describe the data and examine the likelihood of a respondent visiting a doctor or healthcare professional in the preceding 12 months. In addition, the analyses examined the role of health and socio-demographic characteristics within selected regions.ResultsThe increased likelihood of using health services in terms of visiting a doctor or healthcare professional was related to poor health status, being female, married, having a low income, and residing in particular regions. Respondents aged <65 and who lived furthest from service providers were less likely to visit a doctor or other health professionals (p < 0.01). Residents who lived in Riyadh, Al Medina, Baha, or Aseer demonstrated a higher likelihood of service utilization compared to respondents residing in other regions (p < 0.05). In sub-group analyses, there was variation between regions with respect to socio-demographic status and distance to service.ConclusionRegion of residence and income level, in particular, may help to explain the likelihood of primary care use in Saudi Arabia and the distinct patterns of service use in relation to regional and socio-demographic characteristics. The relationship between regional variation in service utilization and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents may reflect differences with respect to population need, enabling, and predisposing factors as represented in Anderson's Behavioral Model (ABM) of health service use. The findings from this study underscore the importance of considering region or area of residence when seeking to understand the utilization of health services, particularly primary care services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:24:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b595d51d1524dc9bbc896749083fe40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:24:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b595d51d1524dc9bbc896749083fe402023-11-06T13:08:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2023-11-011010.3389/fmed.2023.12523401252340The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview SurveyMotab Aljohani0Motab Aljohani1Michael Donnelly2Ibrahim Al Sumaih3Ciaran O'Neill4Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United KingdomPublic Health Department, College of Health Science, Saudi Electronic, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United KingdomMedical Supportive Services, King Fahad Hospital, Ministry of Health, Hofuf, Saudi ArabiaCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United KingdomBackgroundThere is a dearth of research on the nature and extent of variation in patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. This is an important gap in knowledge, given ongoing efforts to improve service provision and delivery. This study examined the relationship between the region of residence and socio-demographic factors and patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia.MethodsData were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS), a national multistage survey of individuals aged 15 years and above in Saudi Arabia. Data included measures of service use, respondent health, socio-demographic characteristics, and region or area of residence. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to describe the data and examine the likelihood of a respondent visiting a doctor or healthcare professional in the preceding 12 months. In addition, the analyses examined the role of health and socio-demographic characteristics within selected regions.ResultsThe increased likelihood of using health services in terms of visiting a doctor or healthcare professional was related to poor health status, being female, married, having a low income, and residing in particular regions. Respondents aged <65 and who lived furthest from service providers were less likely to visit a doctor or other health professionals (p < 0.01). Residents who lived in Riyadh, Al Medina, Baha, or Aseer demonstrated a higher likelihood of service utilization compared to respondents residing in other regions (p < 0.05). In sub-group analyses, there was variation between regions with respect to socio-demographic status and distance to service.ConclusionRegion of residence and income level, in particular, may help to explain the likelihood of primary care use in Saudi Arabia and the distinct patterns of service use in relation to regional and socio-demographic characteristics. The relationship between regional variation in service utilization and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents may reflect differences with respect to population need, enabling, and predisposing factors as represented in Anderson's Behavioral Model (ABM) of health service use. The findings from this study underscore the importance of considering region or area of residence when seeking to understand the utilization of health services, particularly primary care services.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1252340/fullhealthcare accessprimary carehealthcare utilizationhealth service usehealthcare determinants |
| spellingShingle | Motab Aljohani Motab Aljohani Michael Donnelly Ibrahim Al Sumaih Ciaran O'Neill The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey Frontiers in Medicine healthcare access primary care healthcare utilization health service use healthcare determinants |
| title | The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey |
| title_full | The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey |
| title_short | The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey |
| title_sort | relationship between region of residence socio demographic factors and healthcare utilization among saudi citizens insights from the 2013 saudi health interview survey |
| topic | healthcare access primary care healthcare utilization health service use healthcare determinants |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1252340/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT motabaljohani therelationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT motabaljohani therelationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT michaeldonnelly therelationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT ibrahimalsumaih therelationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT ciaranoneill therelationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT motabaljohani relationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT motabaljohani relationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT michaeldonnelly relationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT ibrahimalsumaih relationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey AT ciaranoneill relationshipbetweenregionofresidencesociodemographicfactorsandhealthcareutilizationamongsaudicitizensinsightsfromthe2013saudihealthinterviewsurvey |