Arranjos domiciliares e a utilização de serviços de saúde dos idosos brasileiros

Abstract

The present study verifies the association between living arrangements and healthcare utilization, controlling estimation by demographic and socioeconomic factors and health conditions. The database used is that of PNAD 2008. Three ways of utilization of the healthcare were taken into account: medical appointment, hospitalization and emergency assistance at home in the period of reference. Models of multivariated logistic were used to each kind of health service: one has compared the utilization of health services between elders who lived by themselves with those who lived with other people, and the other model compared the utilization of health services only between elders which are co-residents with someone else. The result reveals a significant sex difference, not only in the characteristics of the arrangements and health conditions, but also in the usage of services. Besides, results suggest that living alone does not differenciate to the elder regarding medical appointment or hospitalization, but emergency assistance at home. Among the elders who do not live alone, several factors interfere in the probability of using health services. Living arrangements with elders-only have a greater chance to use health services in a appropriated way. Surprisingly, living with adults, supposedly the elders' children, does not offer protection regarding the utilization of health services.