Table 3.
Factors associated with higher likelihood of lawsuits among Rio Grande do Sul municipalities: Results from fully adjusted multi-level random effects logistic regression model
| Variable | Coefficient | 95% confidence interval | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | |||
| Populationa | 1.04 | (1.01–1.07) | 0.02 |
| Mortality rateb | 1.17 | (1.01–1.34) | 0.031 |
| Socioeconomic | |||
| Urbanc | 1.01 | (1.00–1.03) | 0.022 |
| Illiteracy rated | 0.97 | (0.89–1.06) | NS |
| Per capita incomee | 0.99 | (0.86–1.14) | NS |
| Service availability | |||
| Health servicesf | 0.56 | (0.27–1.17) | NS |
| Public Defender’s Officeg | 6.95 | (3.2–15.1) | <0.0001 |
| Constant | 0.09 | (0.01–0.56) | NS |
| N | 496 |
Notes: Multivariable multi-level random effects logistic regression model. The independent variable is the presence or absence of medicine-requesting lawsuits in a municipality. All the listed characteristics are included as fixed-effects regressors. The model includes a random intercept for health administrative region (HAR). Coefficients represent expected change in the odds of lawsuits associated with a 1-unit change in the variable, keeping all other characteristics constant. NS: not statistically significant (p-value >0.05). N=496 municipalities.
a Total population, in thousands
b Crude mortality rate: total deaths per 1,000 inhabitants
c Municipality has predominance of urban areas
d Percentage of the adult population that cannot read or write
e Average per capita income in 2010 Brazilian reais
f Health services per 100,000 inhabitants
g Municipality has at least one Public Defender’s Office