Background: The high fragmentation and decentralization in the provision of health care services that characterizes Argentina’s health system, as well as the economic and social inequalities, challenge the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The objective of this study is to measure socioeconomic-related inequality and horizontal inequity in the use of health care services in Argentina as well as identify the factors that contribute to these disparities.Methods: The 2013 National Risk Factor Survey, developed by the Ministry of Health of Argentina, was used to measure socioeconomic-related inequality and inequity in the use of health care services through concentration curves, the Erreygers concentration index, and the index of horizontal inequity. Econometric micro-decomposition was applied to estimate the contribution of each determining factor to inequality in the use of health care services.Results: The Erreygers concentration index for the use of health care services was 0.1223, evidencing pro-rich inequalities. By adding variables of health care needs, the horizontal inequity index was 0.1296. Non-need factors such as education and health coverage with social security increase pro-rich inequality.Conclusions: The Argentine health system shows pro-rich inequality in the use of health care services. It is necessary to design strategies to improve articulation between the three coverage subsectors and national, provincial, and municipal governments to keep the commitment of “not leaving anyone behind.” The results showed here could provide lessons for countries with similar contexts and challenges in public health.

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in the population influence access to health services and constitute a challenge for health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Peru, an increase in the use of medical services has been estimated; however, the study of inequalities in the use of medical services is limited. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze and decompose socioeconomic inequalities in the use of medical consultation services in Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data from the National Household Survey 2019. The outcome variable was the use of a consultation attended by a physician in the last 4 weeks in persons who presented symptom or discomfort, illness, relapse of chronic disease and/or accident. Concentration curves and Erreygers concentration indices were used to determine socioeconomic inequalities, and a generalized linear regression model was used for the decomposition analysis of inequalities. Results: A total of 52,715 persons were included in the study. The frequency of medical consultation was 25.4% (95% confidence interval: 24.8 − 26.1%). In the inequality analysis, it was found that the use of medical consultations was concentrated among the wealthiest individuals. The main contributing factors were having another type of health insurance (social health insurance [EsSalud], private health insurance, health provider, the Armed Forces, and the Police), residing in an urban area, belonging to the richest wealth quintile, having a chronic disease, and residing in the highlands of Peru. Conclusions: Based on our findings, government institutions seeking to achieve equitable access to health services should consider the main factors contributing to this inequality in the formulation of strategies to lessen the negative impact of inadequate disease control in the population.

Objetivos. Estimar la satisfacción con la atención en salud recibida en los establecimientos del Ministerio de Salud (MINSA) en el Perú y determinar sus factores asociados en adultos peruanos. Materiales y métodos. Estudio analítico de corte transversal empleando datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares sobre Condiciones de Vida y Pobreza (ENAHO) 2018. La satisfacción con la atención en salud recibida fue calificada como: muy mala, mala, buena, y muy buena. Se describieron las características de la población en estudio mediante frecuencias y proporciones ponderadas. Para determinar los factores asociados a la satisfacción con la atención recibida, se estimó un modelo logístico ordinal generalizado. Resultados. Se incluyó un total de 14 206 adultos (población expandida: 7 684 602) que reportaron haber sido atendidos en algún establecimiento de salud del MINSA. A nivel nacional, el 74,3% de usuarios reportó una satisfacción con el servicio recibido como «bueno o muy bueno». Padecer una enfermedad crónica, tener una lengua materna nativa o vivir en aglomeraciones poblacionales mayores a 2000 personas se asoció con una menor satisfacción con la atención recibida. Vivir en la selva se asoció con un reporte de mayor satisfacción con la atención. Conclusiones. Tres de cada cuatro usuarios externos califican como buena o muy buena la atención recibida en establecimientos del MINSA. Existen subgrupos poblacionales con una menor satisfacción de la atención recibida. Incidir en la mejora de la satisfacción de estos usuarios mejoraría la calidad de la atención en el MINSA, el mayor prestador en salud en Perú.

To determine the factors associated and measure the socioeconomic inequalities in people with undiagnosed hypertension in Peru. An observational, cross-sectional, analytical study was performed using data from the 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES, acronym in Spanish) database. The dependent variable was the presence of undiagnosed hypertension (mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg in the two blood pressure measurements and with no prior diagnosis of hypertension by a health care professional). Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated to determine the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. The socioeconomic inequality in undiagnosed hypertension was estimated using concentration curves and the Erreygers concentration index. 67.2% of 3697 persons with hypertension had not been diagnosed. Non-diagnosis of hypertension was more prevalent in men who were residents of the Coast and in inhabitants residing at more than 3000 m above sea level. Being 50 years of age or older, having health insurance, being obese and having diabetes mellitus were associated with a lower prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. Inequality of the non-diagnosis of hypertension was found to be concentrated in the poorest population. At least one out of every two adult Peruvians with hypertension have not been diagnosed with this condition. Socioeconomic inequality was found, as well as socio-demographic and health-related factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Our findings identify some population subgroups in which interventions for screening and treatment of hypertension should be prioritized in order to reduce both inequalities and complications of hypertension among the most vulnerable.

Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia y determinar los factores asociados a la no utilización de instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud (NUIPSS) en inmigrantes adultos venezolanos en Perú. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico de la «Encuesta Dirigida a la Población Venezolana que Reside en el País» 2018. Se calculó la proporción de inmigrantes con NUIPSS (inmigrantes con algún síntoma o malestar, enfermedad, recaída de enfermedad crónica, accidente y molestia o problema como depresión, miedo, enojo, ansiedad, estrés y que consideraron que no era tan grave o necesario acudir a una institución prestadora de servicios de salud). Se estimaron razones de prevalencia (RP) crudas y ajustadas (RPa) de presentar NUIPSS usando modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados. Se incluyeron 2144 venezolanos inmigrantes. El 57,2% presentó NUIPSS, reportando motivos como: no contar con dinero (64,5%), carecer de seguro de salud (24,3%), automedicación (12,8%) y no disponer de tiempo (8,4%). Residir en Arequipa (Rpa:0,69; IC95%: 0,57-0,83) o Trujillo (Rpa: 0,87; IC95%: 0,76-0,99), padecer una enfermedad crónica (Rpa: 0,83; IC95%: 0,71-0,97) y estar afiliado al Seguro Integral de Salud (SIS) (Rpa: 0,28; IC95%: 0,13-0,61) se asoció con una menor probabilidad de NUIPSS. Ser de un grupo etario más joven al de 60 a más años se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de NUIPSS. Conclusiones. Uno de cada dos venezolanos inmigrantes en Perú presenta NUIPSS. Contar con SIS incrementa la probabilidad de acudir a atención médica en inmigrantes venezolanos en territorio peruano. Incrementar el aseguramiento público en salud de esta población, que actualmente es bajo, podría incrementar el uso de servicios de salud.

Gasto de bolsillo en salud en adultos mayores peruanos: análisis de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares sobre Condiciones de Vida y Pobreza 2017