The equity challenge: factors associated with outpatient production expenditures in secondary care

Abstract

Objective: To analyze which socioeconomic, structural and demographic variables have a more relevant association with the production and outpatient expenses of medium complexity in the state of Minas Gerais during 2014. Methods: Ecological, observational analytical study with a population of 853 municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais aggregated by 77 Regional Interactive Commis sions (RICs). Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed between production expenditure and socio-demographic variables and economics, coverage of the Family Health Strategy, number of specialist doctors and Basic Care, and supply (equipment) of services in medium complexity. Results: The socioeconomic, demographic and structural characterization of the health services of the RICs indicated heterogeneity in these variables. Positive correlation between production and outpatient per capita expenditure was evidenced in average complexity with the following variables: GDP, average household income per capita, HDI, housing condition, female gender, medical specialists and basic care. There were also negative correlations with the variables: Illiteracy rate and coverage of the family health strategy. In the multiple linear regression the housing condition variable presented a higher predictive value in relation to per capita production in medium complexity, and the variables “medical specialists”, “housing conditions” and “RX equipment” showed higher predictive value for per capita expenditure in complexity. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that the infrastructure and the socioeconomic status of RICs are determining the higher production and outpatient expenses of medium complexity, since regions with lower infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions tend to spend less.