Statistics Canada says 1.5 million Canadians (6.6% of the adult population) had unmet health-care needs in the previous year, up from 4.4% in 1994/95 and 5.4% in 1996/97.
The report, based on data from the 1998/99 National Population Health Survey, indicates that 39% of those with unmet needs cited availability issues (long waiting times, service not available when required and service not available in the geographic area) as the cause; 13% blamed accessibility issues such as the cost of transportation. For more than half, needs weren't met because of “acceptability issues,” such as personal circumstances and personal attitudes (“couldn't be bothered”).
Overall, 2.6% of adult Canadians experienced unmet health care needs due to availability issues. Age, household income, education and immigration status had no impact on the prevalence of unmet needs due to availability, while a small difference according to sex (2.1% of males compared with 3.1% of females) was found to be statistically significant. Those in poor health were more likely to report unmet needs due to availability than those in good to excellent health (6.6% v. 2.2%).
Four percent of Canadians had unmet health care needs because of acceptability issues (personal circumstances and attitudes). Women (4.1%), those aged 18-34 (5.1%), Aboriginals (8.3%) and those with higher levels of education (3.8%) were most likely to report unmet needs for these reasons. Those in poor health were also more likely to have experienced unmet needs due to acceptability than those in good to excellent health (8.7% compared with 3%). (The next Pulse column will discuss data from the Canadian Community Health Survey conducted in 2000/01.) — Shelley Martin, Senior Analyst, Research, Policy and Planning Directorate, CMA
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