Supply and utilization of health service among migrant population in China: a comparative study

  Objective  To compare regional differences in health service supply to and utilization of migrant populations in China and to provide references for the accessibility and equalization of health services for migrant population.

  Methods  The data on 200 937 migrant people aged 15 – 59 years were extracted from a dynamic surveillance on migrant populations conducted in 32 provincial regions across China during 2014. Differences in supply and utilization of health education, medical insurance and hospitalization among migrant populations in the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions were analyzed and compared.

  Results  For the migrant populations in the four geographic regions, the relative rate (RR) of content-, site-, and route-specific health education supply per capita were highest for the migrant population in western region (RR = 1.16, 1.13, and 1.13), but the lowest for those in northeastern (RR = 0.83, 0.80, and 0.83). The highest coverage of medical insurance for urban and rural residents (RR = 1.54), urban workers (RR = 1.50), private individuals (RR = 1.21), employment injury (RR = 1.54), and maternity (RR = 1.54) were observed in the migrant population in eastern region; while, the lowest coverage of the 5 items of medical insurance were observed in the migrant population in northeastern region, with the RR of 0.44, 0.55, 0.83, 0.46, and 0.42, respectively. The coverage of free medical care was the highest in the migrant population in western region (RR = 1.20) and the lowest in those in northeastern region (RR = 0.73). The hospitalization rate was the highest for the migrant population in eastern and western regions (RR = 1.06) and the rate was the lowest for the migrant population in northeastern region (RR = 0.62).

  Conclusion  For the migrant populations in different geographical regions in China, those in western region had higher quality of health education per capita; the migrant population in eastern region had a higher coverage of medical insurance and those in eastern and western region had a higher hospitalization rate; but the migrant population in northeastern regions had lower quality of health education per capita and lower rate of medical insurance coverage and hospitalization.