Influência da idade e da escolaridade no uso de serviços preventivos de saúde: Inquérito de Saúde da Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of preventive health care use among older adults, in comparison with younger ones, as well as examining the influence of educational level. The work was carried out in a representative sample of residents in the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, aged 60 years or more (n=1,786) and those aged 20-59 years (n=12,065). The prevalence of hypertension and elevated cholesterol level was high in both groups, but highest among older adults. However, the frequency of fecal occult blood testing among those aged 50 years or more and the prevalence of mamography among females aged 60-69 years was low when compared to other groups. The use of all preventive services studied by younger adults, and of some services by older adults was less frequent among those with a lower educational level, indicating the existence of inequities in the use of preventive health services by the study population.