A Study On Medical care Utilization of Low Income People in Designated Areas

도시(都市) 저소득층주민(低所得層住民)의 의료이용실태(醫療利用實態)

Rapid industrialization has induced the migration of rural people to urban areas. Such migration has created enlarged the existing low income group. Residents of low income area have increased health risk owing to their poor living environment, low income. overwork and inappropriate health care. The general objective of this study was to group the pattern of medical care utilization of low income group. The specific objectives were to identify disease prevalence and medical care utilization of low income group. To meet the objectives of this study, household interview method was applied. A total of 1845 households in 5 areas such as Bongchon 5th Dong, Bongchon 2nd Dong, Sanggae 5th Dong, Sanggae 4th Dong, and Shinrim 7th Dong were visited and interviewed by field team during the period from April 19 to May 3. 1989. The major findings obtained from the information collected were as follows : The Number of room per household used was one to two rooms. The employment state of the head of household disclosed that 88.6% had a job and the remaining 11.4% were unemployed. The average monthly income was 502,770won. however, 30% of the total income was less than 300,000 won in Bongchon 5th dong area. and 34.5% in Shinrim 7th Dong area. 41.3% of households had debts, which was consisted of household expense(33.4%), income formulation(22.7%) and medical care cost(15.9%) etc. Prevalence rate of diseases during the preceding 30days before the date of the household interview was 387.7 per 1000 persons. The prevalence rate of female was higher than that of male. 8.9% of the sick persons wasn't receiving any medical treatment, and the main reasons of which were lack of economic availability(43.3%) and feeling of non treatment needed(33.7%). According to the study results it was found that the prevalence rate of chroic diseases and the disabled in low income resident areas was higher than that in the other areas. Therefore, the health status of this group should be improved through PHC approaches. In addition. in order to prevent the diseases and promote the health of those people, the health center as well as health subcenter should be strengthened.