HEALTH CARE UTILISATION IN A NEW ZEALAND BIRTH COHORT

Abstract

The relationship between preventive health care utilisation rates and family social background was examined in a birth cohort of two‐year‐old children. There was a highly significant association between social background and the utilisation of preventive health care. Factors found to reduce preventive health care utilisation included: mother of non‐European ethnic origin; single parent family; low maternal education; high residential mobility and large family size. Maternal age and family income were unrelated to health care utilisation when other variables were taken into account. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed. 1981 Public Health Association of Australia