Status and decomposition of health equity among the elderly in Fujian province

Objective To assess the health inequality and to explore factors contributing to the inequality among the elderly in Fujian province.Methods The data on health status and health care utilization for 3 050 residents aged 60 years and over were extracted from the dataset of Fifth National Health Services Survey held in Fujian province between August and September 2013.Concentration index was employed to measure the health inequality and the index was decomposed to determine the contributors of the inequality.Results Significant increasing trends in two week disease prevalence rate (χ²=20.19,P<0.05),chronic disease prevalence rate (χ²=18.03,P<0.05),and hospitalization rate (χ²=18.32,P<0.05) positively with familial income were observed among the elderly;but no significant differences in the ratio of visiting a doctor and needing to have medication during the two weeks were observed among the elderly with different familial income.The concentration indexes were 0.061,0.053,and 0.128 for the probability of two week disease prevalence,suffering from chronic diseases,and hospitalization.The contribution rate (contribution value/concentration index) of household economic status to the inequality in two week disease prevalence,prevalence rate of chronic diseases,and hospitalization rate were 107.86% (0.065 8/0.061),98.11% (0.052/0.053),and 90.31% (0.115 6/0.128),respectively;the contribution rate of chromic disease prevalence rate to the inequality in hospitalization rate was 14.84%(0.019/0.128).Conclusion The health equity is at a general level and household economic status is a main contributor for the inequality in hospitalization probability among community elderly in Fujian province.