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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
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Factors Contributing to Utilization of Health Care Services in Malaysia: A Population-Based Study

Saroja Krishnaswamy, MSC, MRCPSych

Department of Psychiatry, Penang Medical College, Penang, Malaysia

Kavitha Subramaniam, MSc

Department of Public Health Medicine, Penang Medical College, Penang, Malaysia, eskei13{at}hotmail.com.; eskei13{at}yahoo.co.uk

Wah Yun Low, PhD

Health Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jemain Abdul Aziz, MSc, PhD

Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

Tishya Indran, MBBS

Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

Padma Ramachandran, MSc

Department of Psychology, Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom

Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid, MMed (Psych)

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Vikram Patel, MRCPsychiatry, PHD

Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Objective. This paper examines the factors contributing to the under utilisation of health care services in the Malaysian population. Methodology. Using data derived from Malaysian Mental Health Survey (MMHS) information on utilisation of four basic health services in the previous three months, namely contact with health care professionals, ward admissions, having diagnostic or laboratory tests done and being on any medications were obtained. Results. A total of 2202 out of 3666 or 60% of the MMHS participants were included in this study. Thirty percent of the subjects (n = 664) had contacts with health care professionals. Those with health complications, disabilities and those aged 50 years and above utilised health services more significantly as compared to those who lacked health facilities near their homes, had little family support during illnesses and were from the Chinese ethnic group. Conclusion. Factors leading to the under utilisation of health care services need to be further studied and needs in certain groups in the population should be addressed. Healthcare providers must be prepared to fulfil these needs.

Key Words: Utilisation • health care services • Malaysia

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 21, No. 4, 442-450 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1010539509345862
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W. Y. Low
Diversity in Public Health Issues
Asia Pac J Public Health, October 1, 2009; 21(4): 357 - 358.
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