A Variation of Health Service Utilization in Wonju City

Jin, Kinam

Abstract

This study intends to examine the behavioral pattern and small area variations of health service utilization within Wonju city. We selected three small areas in Wonju city as the study site: Haksung-dong(central area of the city), Moonmak-myun (industrial area which is located 25km away from the center of the city), and Gure-myun (agricultural area which is located 32km away from the center). The data were collected by administering questionnaire interviews with 526 people in three areas. The questionnaire include the items on health service utilization behaviors, sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and perceptions. The statistical methods used for the analysis were ANOVA and hierarchical logistic regression. From the analysis, it was found that there was a variation of health service utilization by areas. Compared to those of other areas, the respondents from agricultural area showed a high probability of using health services. When respondents' personal characteristics were taken into account, the effect of dummy variables representing areas disappeared. Instead, the perceived health status became the prime factor of health service utilization. This result showed that the small area variations of health service utilization is due to the demand factor rather than the supply factor.