Abstract
Introduction For many countries, primary health care (PHC) serves as the gateway for individuals to access healthcare services. It has been shown to not only improve health but also health equity. To maximise this benefit, a substantial proportion of the population needs to be connected with PHC. The aim here was to assess the degree and evolution of enrolment in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods We examined data on the enrolment of people in PHC organisations between 2016 and 2023. This analysis included breakdowns by sex, age groups, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation levels. Poisson regression models were used to explore whether enrolment changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results In 2016, Māori, young people and the most deprived had lower enrolment rates relative to their peers. Although young people’s enrolment rate increased over time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Māori enrolment rate declined, as did the rate for Pacific people, and those who were the most deprived. The groups who had increases in enrolment rates were those with the lowest levels of socioeconomic deprivation and those in the ‘Other’ ethnic category, predominantly made up of European New Zealanders. Conclusion Enrolment statistics reveal disparities across sociodemographic lines. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changed patterns of enrolment that appear to have consequences for population health.
Funder
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Lottery Health Research
Subject
Family Practice,General Medicine
Reference27 articles.
1. World Health Organization (WHO). Declaration of Alma-Ata. International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6–12 December 1978. Available at [Accessed 21 January 2023].
2. The Lancet Global Health Commission on financing primary health care: putting people at the centre.;Lancet Glob Health,2022
3. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Realising the Potential of Primary Health Care. Paris, France: OECD Publishing; 2020.
4. Contribution of Primary Care to Health Systems and Health.;Milbank Q,2005
5. Kalucy E, Katterl R, Jackson-Bowers E, Models of patient enrolment. Adelaide, Australia: Primary Health Care Research and Information Service; 2009.
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献