Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2025.66.35
Socio-economic and health related determinants of unmet health needs: a national cross sectional study on the adult population
Vesna Štefančić Martić
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Ivičević Uhernik
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Tomislav Benjak
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Petra Čukelj
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Brkić-Biloš
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Danijela Štimac Grbić
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim To investigate the prevalence and predictors of self
perceived unmet health needs (UHN) in Croatia.
Methods We used data from the European Health Inter
view Survey, conducted in 2019 on 5461 individuals. De
pendent variables were different causes of UHN – long
waiting times, financial problems, and problems with
transportation, while independent variables were sex,
age, marital status, region of residence, degree of urban
ization of the respondent’s place of residence, education
level, quintile of household’s income, self-perceived gen
eral health, self-reported chronic disease/condition, sever
ity of bodily pain, consultation with a family doctor in the
last 12 months, consultation with a specialist in the last 12
months, and perceived social support. An association be
tween the variables was determined with a simple logistic
regression and multiple logistic regression model.
Results Socioeconomic variables such as low education,
urban residence, and residence in the Adriatic Region, as
well as several health-related factors (worse self-perceived
health, higher perceived levels of bodily pain, consultation
with a physician in the last 12 months, and lower perceived
levels of social support) were associated with higher odds
for unmet health needs.
Conclusion Our findings highlight the need for continued
reform and targeted initiatives in the Croatian health care
system to improve health care access and equity. Address
ing the underlying causes of UHN can help to ensure fair
health care for all individuals and enhance overall health
outcomes.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
352469
URI
Publication date:
20.2.2025.
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