Social capital and the use of health services: a cross-sectional study among brazilian older adults

• Author(s): Borges,Carolina Marques ; Souza,Marina Celly Martins Ribeiro de ; Campos,Ana Cristina Viana ; Oksanen,Tuula
• Date: 2018
• Origin: Oasisbr
• Subject(s): social capital; aging; social determinants of health.
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate the association between social capital and the use of health services among Brazilian non-institutionalized older adults living in an urban metropolitan area.
METHODS: The sample was comprised of 2,052 respondents aged 60 or older. Individual Social Capital was measured by The World Bank Integrated Questionnaire (IQ-MSC) dichotomized in “low” and “high” social Capital. Use of health services, community engagement, familiar functionality, and social demographics were assessed.
RESULTS: Individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 73% more likely to have a medical appointment in the 6 months previous to the interview [OR = 1.76; 95%CI 1.19–2.52] compared to the high social capital group. In the opposite direction, individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 29% less likely to have a dental appointment regularly [OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.51–0.98], were 88% less likely to be engaged in community projects [OR = 0.12; 95%CI 0.09–0.15], and 42% less likely to have a good familiar functionality [OR = 0.58; 95%CI 0.37–0.88], compared to the older adults who had high levels of social capital.
CONCLUSION: Individual low social capital affected the pattern that older adults used health services in the investigated population differently