Abstract

Disparities in primary care access are an essential problem, which depends on SES and geographical location, and where the negative effects are felt most acutely by low-income and rural patients. This paper examines the influence of SES and geographical characteristics on primary care utilization and the strategies that may help to reduce disparities in access to care. In this study, a cross-sectional observational research design was employed and data were obtained from structured questionnaires and secondary sources such as census data. Logistic regression and GIS mapping were used to analyze the correlation between SES, location, and access, as well as to determine the areas that are underserved or have ‘healthcare deserts’. The outcome shows significant differences; low-income users had 25% lower access compared to high-income users and the uninsured users had 30% lower chances to access routine care. Education also played a role in the use of primary care with 45% of people with only high school education using primary care while 70% of people with post-secondary education used primary care. Geographical mapping revealed that 80% of the rural participants resided over 10 miles away from the health facilities and the problem was compounded by lack of transport. The results presented in this paper underscore the importance of policy changes that would increase access to health insurance, improve transport accessibility, and raise health literacy to increase the quality of care for vulnerable populations.

Description