Age

When it comes to the healthcare utilization among people, age-related effects on

health service utilization are not well understood (Wang, J.X.. et al 2008). Even so, age

as a factor itself may hold a big impact on the delay of healthcare services utilization.

Results from research vary as it associates age with other factors such as

gender, socio-economic status, or living address, and not as a single component (WHO,

2011). Such age variations in health seeking behaviors could also be linked with the

individual's health decisions which are significantly shaped by exposure to physical,

social, environmental and historical factors from birth to old age (Singh, P.K. & Singh, L.,

2014).

Even then, studies prove that an increase of age has been associated with the

more immediate seeking of the services compared to the younger aged adults. This is

most likely due to the health status of older people possessing health challenges

because of the physical and mental changes brought by the advancing age (Adhikari, D.

& Rijal, D.P., 2014). In one study assessing the health-seeking behavior of adults aging

>60 YO, it concluded that the elderly are the most vulnerable group in their healthcare-

seeking behavior (Sharma, D. et al, 2013).

In contrast, young and middle aged adults are utilizing less and are delaying the

utilization of health care services compared to the elderly adults. This is because in

most cases, these adults self-medicate before they seek out help. Some are also less

knowledgeable on certain diseases and conditions which can lead them to delay further

as they lack the urgency to do so (Kim, S.A., et al, 2014). Statistically of about 55%,
people aging from 20-40 YO or generally <60 YO had significantly lower trends

compared to those <60 YO (Wong, A. et al, 2012).

Age-specific trends will raise questions on the sustainability of

intergenerational solidarity in health care, as solidarity will not only be
strained by the ageing population, but also might find itself under
additional pressure as the gap in health care utilization between
elderly and non-elderly grows over time (Wong, A. et al, 2012)."

Sources:

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service utilization among the elderly: findings from the Study to Understand the
Chronic Condition Experience of the Elderly and the Disabled (SUCCEED
project). Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From National Center for Biotechnology
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WHO, (2011). Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health.

Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From World Health Organization.

Singh, P.K. & Singh, L., (2014). EXAMINING INTER-GENERATIONAL

DIFFERENTIALS IN MATERNAL HEALTH CARE SERVICE UTILIZATION:
INSIGHTS FROM THE INDIAN DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY.
Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From Journal of Biosocial Science; Cambridge.

Adhikari, D. & Rijal, D.P., (2014). FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH SEEKING

BEHAVIOR OF SENIOR CITIZENS OF DHARAN. Retrieved on January 23,
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Behavior of Aged Population residing in Shimla Hills of North India: A Cross-

Sectional Study. Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From National Center for
Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Kim, S.A., Capeding, M.R.Z., & Kilgore, P.E., (2014). FACTORS INFLUENCING
HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION AMONG CHILDREN WITH PNEUMONIA IN
MUNTINLUPA CITY, THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From
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Wong, A., Wouterse, B., Slobbe, L.C.J., Boshuizen, H.C., & Polder, J.J., (2012).
Medical innovation and age-specific trends in health care utilization: Findings
and implications. Retrieved on January 23, 2017. From National Institute for
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