Healthcare utilization disparities among children in Israel: big data analyses study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to investigate the differences in healthcare utilization in children in Israel over ten years. While examining the differences between various populations. Methods Data were obtained from the Clalit Health Care data warehouse, covering over 250,000 children residing in the Haifa and Western Galilee district. The population groups were categorized based on ethnicity (Jewish vs Arab) and residential settings (urban vs rural). Results Healthcare utilization was consistently higher among Jewish children than Arab children, irrespective of the specific dimension analyzed. Additionally, urban-dwelling children exhibited higher usage rates than those residing in rural areas in all investigated dimensions. However, Jewish children showed significantly lower hospitalization rates than Arab children across all years. No significant differences in hospitalizations were observed between urban and rural children. Notably, the study observed reduced antibiotic usage and hospitalizations over the years for all populations. Furthermore, Arab children and those living in rural environments face reduced accessibility to health care, as evidenced by fewer physician visits, laboratory and imaging tests. Conclusion This study highlights the substantial population-based disparities in healthcare utilization among children in Israel, despite the equalizing effect of the national health insurance law. Consequently, it is imperative to address these disparities and implement targeted interventions to enhance healthcare accessibility for Arab children and rural communities. The decline in antibiotic usage and hospitalizations suggests positive trends in pediatric health care, necessitating ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access and quality of care for all populations.