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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

General practitioner utilisation in Ireland: the role of socio-economic factors.

Substantial variation across socio-economic groups in general practitioner utilisation patterns is observed in Ireland. This may reflect both the influence of socio-economic factors on health and on the demand for health care, and the fact that lower income groups are entitled to free GP care whereas the remainder of the population must pay on a fee-per-item basis. The paper analyses the influence of economic incentives and socio-economic factors on GP utilisation using data obtained in a large-scale household survey. This allows the different utilisation patterns of different social classes/income groups, and those with entitlement to free care vs the remainder of the population, to be documented. The importance of attempting to control for health status is shown, and the difficulties in trying to disentangle the effects of incentives from those of social class or income illustrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Socio-economic factors in relation to lipid profiles in young girl athletes.

The influence of socio-economic factors on blood lipid values was studied in 4 groups of young female athletes. Based on type of sport (gymnastics and swimming) and of training intensity, the participants were subdivided into 25 talented, high achievement gymnasts (age 12.3 +/- 1.6 (SD) year), 42 non-talented, low achievement gymnasts (age 12.0 +/- 1.2 (SD) year), 12 high achievement swimmers (age 10.3 +/- 1.6 (SD) year), and 24 low achievement swimmers (age 10.8 +/- 1.6 (SD) year). With respect to socio-economic factors, no significant differences were observed between the two gymnastic groups nor between the two swimming groups. The blood lipid values revealed a significantly higher low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and significantly lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios in the talented gymnasts as compared to the non-talented gymnasts. In the high achievement swimmers, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol was significantly higher as compared to the other swimmers. The Spearman rank order correlation coefficients for the relationships between socio-economic factors and blood lipid values were mostly weak or inconsistent. Therefore, no major influence of socio-economic factors on blood lipid values could be demonstrated in the groups investigated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

A study of some biological and socio-economic factors in low birth weight.

Of 3841 children born alive in Malmö in Sweden in 1966, 188, 4.9% had a birth weight of larger than 2500 g. We studied these children with their families and a control in order to form an opinion on the role played by certain social and biological factors in the aetiology of LBW in a country with a relatively high average standard of living. Biological factors were analysed, such as the mother's age, parity, stature, and weight, as well as purely socio-economic factors such as the mother's civil staatus, the social group of the mother and father, income, mother's allowance in case of illness, social help or investigations regarding one or more members of the family, as well as the frequency of immigrants. The combined effect of various socio-economic factors was judged by help of a "social score". The results were analysed for 3 different groups of low birth weight, appropriate for gestational age, small for gestational age and multiple births. Judging from our investigation, biological factors probably play the greatest role in the question of LBW but these factors are difficult to distinguish from socio-economic factors which probably still play a certain role in the group preterm children, appropriate for gestational age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Economic factors and the rates of suicide in Germany between 1881 and 1989.

The potential consequence of economic stress most frequently cited in the literature of medical sociology is the increase in the rate of suicide, it probably being the most valid and reliable indicator of collective mental health. To assess the probability of such being the consequence of current economic realignment in the Federal Republic of Germany, we deemed it promising to evaluate the extent to and manner in which economic factors have to date affected the frequency of suicide in Germany. The current study analyzed the effects of four economic variables (growth of the economy, average real income, unemployment and frequency of bankruptcy) on the rates of suicide in Germany from 1881 to 1989. We set the commencement date of the period analyzed as early as possible to include long-term developments as well as the effects of different moderator variables. The annual fluctuations of all four variables, in conformity with our hypothesis, correlated both in the period preceding World War II as well as in the postwar period with those in the rates of suicide. The strongest correlations held for the rate of unemployment and for the frequency of bankruptcy in times of obvious social disintegration coupled with diminished state safeguards against unemployment. Our hypothesis that the effects of economic factors would more strongly influence the rates of suicide by men as opposed to women could not be corroborated.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1991

Childhood coma in Ibadan. Relationship to socio-economic factors.

According to the literature, socio-economic factors may contribute more to geographic variations in the aetiology and prognosis of childhood coma than has previously been recognised. This prospective study involving 118 children with strictly defined coma demonstrated that the commonest causes of coma in Ibadan were cerebral malaria (55%), meningitis (13%) and encephalitis (10%). The prognosis was poor. Forty-three (36%) of 118 cases died and 75 (64%) survived, including 23 who showed neurologic deficits. Noteworthy prognostic indices of coma were the aetiology of the condition, the presence of severe anaemia, hypoglycaemia and pneumonia. The findings are discussed in the context of the socio-economic background of children in the tropics.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1989

Socio-economic factors and rheumatic fever occurrence. Differences between patients with and without frequent sore throat.

One hundred and fourty-eight rheumatic fever patients and 444 controls matched by age, sex and place of residence, were interviewed about socio-economic and some other variables. Socio-economic factors recognized as risk factors for rheumatic fever (flat dampness, more than 2 persons per room, sleeping in bed with other person, low education of mother and undernourishment) were of lesser importance for persons with frequent sore throat in comparison to persons without frequent sore throat. According to the results obtained it seems that there is positive connection between host's propensity to clinical manifestation of throat infection and manifestation of rheumatic fever. The lesser susceptibility the more additional factors are needed for Rheumatic Fever to occur. The relative importance of socio-economic factors in rheumatic fever occurrence depends on host's susceptibility to infection.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1979

Physician awareness of economic factors in clinical decision-making.

Physicians' awareness of economic factors in clinical decision-making at one large urban university medical center was studied by a 50-item questionnaire. Their dollar estimates were considered correct if within +/- 20 per cent of the true October 1976 figure. Eighty-one per cent of the house staff and all of the attendings correctly estimated the daily semi-private room rate, but only 15 per cent of each group correctly estimated the charge for a serum potassium. Roughly half of the questions concerning various third-party benefit plans were answered correctly. These results are consistent with those of the few previous studies. If the findings are generally applicable, they may suggest that a directed teaching program in simple economic facts and principles may be useful at all levels of physician training.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1993

Political and economic factors influencing contraceptive uptake.

International, national and local level politics influence the uptake of contraception through consensuses, laws, financial and moral support or the creation of an enabling atmosphere. Opposition to contraception generally comes from some churches and groups opposed to particular technologies. Socio-economic factors, particularly education, the health care system and the perceived or actual cost of fertility regulation as compared to benefits expected from children also powerfully influence contraceptive use. For many poor women in developing countries their powerlessness in relation to their male partners is an important obstacle.

Contraception↗
PubMed1975

Economical factors in the assessment of various cellulosic substances as chemical and energy resources.

Economic factors in the assessment of various cellulosic substances as chemical and energy resources are many and complex. No substrate nor conversion process can be singled out as significantly advantageous. Agricultural wastes appear to have the best volume and availability characteristics. If glucose is to be the end product, then it will probably have to compete with corn syrup. If SCP is to be the end product, then productivities of 2-4 g/liter-hr must be achieved and the protein demand be such that the product can sell for at least $225/ton. If alcohol is to be the end product, then an intermediate product stream of glucose and other sugars must be obtained for 1-3cent/lb of fermentable sugars.

Agriculture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association of socio-economic factors with drug use among college students in an Indian town.

The paper examines the association of various socio-economic factors with the use of drugs by college students in a town in central India. Data were collected from a large sample, using a self-reporting questionnaire. It was found that analgesics, tobacco and alcohol were the most commonly used drugs amongst some 30 per cent of the students. Factors such as age, urbanity, sex, marital status as well as the family's educational and economic status were seen to be relevant. Inter-parental and inter-generational tensions in the family also had a bearing. Drug use by one or more members of the family was seen as a highly significant factor. The data thus suggest that an inclination towards drug taking might be embedded in the social matrix itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Low back pain in forty to forty-seven year old men. II. Socio-economic factors and previous sickness absence.

The relationship of low back pain (LBP) to various socio-economic factors and previous sickness absence was studied in a random sample of 940, 40-47 year old, men. Since most of the data were available from official registers a comparison between participants and non-participants was possible. The participation rate was 76%, and the life-time incidence of LBP was 61%. No differences were found between men with and men without LBP with respect to education, changes in income, and family conditions. Among the men with LBP there was a tendency to a higher proportion of foreign citizens. The LBP men had an increased previous sickness absence and on average a lower sickness benefit. A higher proportion of the LBP men were blue collar workers. When the influence of other variables was assessed by an analysis of co-variance, two of the variables maintained a direct association with LBP, viz. foreign citizenship and an increased number of sickness absence days. A lower average sickness benefit, an increased previous sickness absence, and a larger proportion of unmarried and divorced men were found among the non-participants who were also more frequently foreign citizens and blue collar workers.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1993

Socio-economic factors, health care consumption and rating of abdominal symptom severity. A report from the abdominal symptom study.

A study of the abdominal/gastrointestinal symptom panorama in relation to socio-economic factors and health care consumption in the general population was performed in Osthammar, Sweden. A postal questionnaire was sent to a representative sample of the adult population (n = 1260). The response rate was 87%. The responders with symptoms (52.1%) subjectively rated their illness on visual analogue scales. All responders were classified as asymptomatic or having 'minor' or 'major' abdominal symptoms. Those having dyspepsia, reflux or irritable bowel syndrome were also ranked as 'minors' or 'majors'. The proportion of subjects with abdominal/gastrointestinal complaints decreased with age, mainly due to a decrease of 'major' symptoms. Also, the proportion of complainers increased among the more educated. Those on sick leave and students had more and worse symptoms than the others, despite the former seldom stating abdominal discomfort as the main reason for sick listing. Fifty-five per cent of all persons reporting abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms had at some time consulted a doctor because of such complaints, the proportion increasing with severity, as did drug consumption and the rate of previous abdominal operations, with appendectomy as an exception. The results show that it is possible to rank the illness along a severity dimension among persons with abdominal/gastrointestinal complaints in epidemiological research.

Abdominal Pain↗