The Socio-Economic Determinants Of Health Care Utilization: A Cross-Sectional Survey In Tehran Metropolis

Background and Aim: Receiving and using health care services is called health services uitilization. There are many socio-economic factors including income, culture, age and education affecting the utilization of the services. This survey aimed to study socio-economic determinants of health utilization in Tehran. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, population based health survey done in year 2013. The sample was 792 households living in Tehran. Data was collected by WHO (households) questionnaire, and analyzed using logistic model and stata12. Results: Among the study variables, households' income, presence of a person with chronic disease, education of the head of the household, and presence of person older than 60 and younger than 14 in households, had a significant statistical relationship with utilization. Insurance coverage had a vague and weak effect on the utilization of health services. Moreover about 23 percent of the households were not under insurance coverage.Conclusion: According to the announced policies by the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and by cconsidering the main focus of these policies on the universal insurance coverage, households financial security and reform of the payment system; identifying households that utilize more health care services than any others because of any socio-economic reasons; is a considerable step for providing financial security for vulnerable households and reforming health care system at the national level.&nbsp