This study examined rural-urban differences in health visits among Thai older people. The researchers measured preventive health care use based on the question of whether the respondent had a health checkup, not due to illness, in the year preceding the survey. Despite Thailand’s universal access to health care, geographic inequity in health care utilisation withstands. Findings suggest investments in education, income security, social participation, and healthy lifestyle promotion can improve health care utilisation. Furthermore, results suggest a need for continued investigation of the role of family support in bridging the rural-urban divide in the health of older Thais.
Language: English
Written by: Nekehia T. Quashie and Wiraporn Pothisiri
Published by: Elsevier, 2019
