Health Services Accessibility and Self-Reported Health Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Propensity Score
Heling Ai1, Ariel Shensa2, Faina Linkov2
1Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
Summary
Unmet healthcare needs negatively impact self-reported health, especially for rural Chinese adults. Financial barriers exacerbate these effects, necessitating targeted healthcare reforms.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Unmet healthcare needs are a significant concern for middle-aged and older adults.
- Urban-rural disparities in healthcare access persist in China.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of unmet healthcare needs on self-reported health in Chinese adults (≥45 years).
- To investigate urban-rural disparities in this impact.
- To identify the role of financial barriers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS).
- Employed propensity score matching and mixed-effects ordinal logit models.
- Incorporated interaction effects regression to analyze urban-rural differences.
Main Results:
- Unmet outpatient care alone had no significant effect, but financial barriers worsened its impact.
- Unmet inpatient care significantly reduced self-reported health, with financial barriers amplifying this negative effect.
- The detrimental impact of unmet inpatient care was significant solely among rural residents.
Conclusions:
- Unmet healthcare needs, particularly when linked to financial barriers, substantially impair self-reported health.
- Rural populations are disproportionately affected by unmet healthcare needs.
- Targeted reforms in financial protection and healthcare delivery are crucial to address these disparities.
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