Socio-demographic disparities in the utilisation of general practice services for Australian children - Results from a nationally representative longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the pattern of general practice services utilization for Australian children and to examine socio-demographic disparities in general practitioner (GP) visits.

Methods

We used the linked data from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) and the Medicare Australia claims data record. We used survey negative binomial and logistic regression to examine the socio-demographic factors associated with the utilisation of general practice services.

Results

The average number of annual GP visits gradually declined from 7.0 at 0-1 year old to 2.4 at 5-8 years (p< .001 for trend) in the infant cohort and from 3.5 at 2-4 years to 2.0 at 9-12 years (p < .001 for trend) in the child cohort. Girls were mo

SUBMITTER: Ou L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5407608 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature