Patterns of health care utilization in Curacao

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the epidemiology of health care utilization in Curacao. The data presented are derived from the Curacao Heatlh Study, a health interview survey among a representative sample of the adult non-institutionalized population (n=2 248) which was carried out in 1993-1994. The outcome is compared to data on health care utilization in The Netherlands in 1994. In general, the use of GPs, specialists and hospitals in Curacao is fairly similar to that of The Netherlands, but the use of dentists and physiotherapists is markedly lower in Curacao. Some distinct differences in utilization of health services between the various population groups are revealed by the data presented in this paper. Women have a higher average level of health services utilization than men, which is in accordance with the fact that in general women's health status is somewhat less good than that of men. Older people make more use of specialists and district nursing care, and are more often hospitalized than young and middle-aged people. This is not surprising, in view of the fact, that in general aging is accompanied by a deterioration in health and a greater need for medical care. In this light, it is striking that older people do not make more use of the services of GPs than younger individuals (AU)