Health Policy Manag.  2017 Dec;27(4):304-314. 10.4332/KJHPA.2017.27.4.304.

An Analysis on the Determinants and Equity of the Postpartum Care Service Utilization

• Sakong J
• Park D

• KMID: 2405634
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2017.27.4.304

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study aimed to analyze effects of postpartum care services to women after birth, identify the factors affecting their use, and examine the extent of income-related inequality in the postpartum care services utilization and expenditures using Korean Health Panel data between 2010 and 2013.
METHODS
The panel data of the year 2010-2013 of the 247 women after birth were used. First, EuroQoL-5D was used to evaluate the effects of postpartum care service to women's quality of life. Second, multinominal logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of the use of the postpartum care services. Finally, concentration index and HIwv (horizontal equity) index were used to find that the concentration index for the inequality in the use of postpartum care services showed negative sign, which implied pro-rich.
RESULTS
The estimation results showed that utilization of the postpartum services has a positive effect on women after birth. Also age, area of residence, and number of household members turn out to be the factors of using postpartum services. And there are inequality in the use of postpartum care services whose HIwv index showed positive sign, which implied pro-rich.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, the government's policy of the postpartum care service is necessary to be expanded and diversified considering the personal characteristics and equity of the women after birth.

Keyword

Postpartum care service utilization; EuroQoL-5D index; Multinominal logistic regression; Concentration index; HIwv index

MeSH Terms

Family Characteristics
Female
Health Expenditures
Humans
Logistic Models
Parturition
Postnatal Care*
Postpartum Period*
Quality of Life
Socioeconomic Factors