Table 4.
Barriers experienced by children while accessing health services according to Australian standard geographical classification categories of urban, regional and remote location (N = 462)
| Variables | ASGC 1a, n (%) | ASGC 2, n (%) | ASGC 3–5, n (%) | ASGC 1 vs. ASGC 2, OR (95% CI) | ASGC 1 vs. ASGC 3–5, OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number residing (n = 462) | 348 (75.3) | 87 (18.8) | 27 (5.8) | ||
| Has private health insurance (n = 235) | 193 (82.1) | 32 (13.6) | 10 (4.3) | 0.46 (0.28–0.75)* | 0.46 (0.20–1.03) |
| Adequate access to health services (n = 190) | 152 (80.0) | 29 (15.3) | 9 (4.7) | 0.52 (0.30–0.90)* | 0.37 (0.16–0.89)* |
| Barriers when accessing specialist doctors | n = 348 | n =87 | n = 27 | ||
| Transport | 52 (14.9) | 21 (24.1) | 7 (25.9) | 1.82 (1.02–3.23)* | 2.00 (0.80–5.00) |
| Distance to travel | 93 (26.7) | 63(72.4) | 24 (88.9) | 7.14 (4.17–12.50)* | 20.00 (6.25–100.00)* |
| Care for siblings | 139(39.9) | 37 (42.5) | 16 (59.3) | 1.11 (0.69–1.79) | 2.17 (0.98–4.76) |
| Waiting period | 127 (36.5) | 29 (33.3) | 14 (51.9) | 0.87 (0.53–1.43) | 1.89 (0.85–4.17) |
| Personal financial cost | 136 (39.1) | 58 (66.7) | 17 (63.0) | 3.13 (1.89–5.00)* | 2.63 (1.18–5.88)* |
| Time off work | 123 (35.3) | 41 (47.1) | 13 (48.1) | 1.64 (1.01–2.63)* | 1.69 (0.78–3.70) |
| Lack of services | 39 (11.2) | 14 (16.1) | 11 (40.7) | 1.52 (0.78–2.94) | 5.56 (2.38–12.50)* |
| Experienced ≥ 3 barriers | 136 (39.1) | 56 (64.4) | 23 (85.2) | 2.78 (1.72–4.55)* | 9.09 (3.03–25.00)* |
| Barriers when accessing other health professionals | n = 348 | n = 87 | n = 27 | ||
| Transport | 48 (13.8) | 17 (19.5) | 5 (7.1) | 1.52 (0.83–2.78) | 1.43 (0.51–4.00) |
| Distance to travel | 63 (18.1) | 35 (40.2) | 15 (55.6) | 3.03 (1.82–5.00)* | 5.56 (2.50–12.50)* |
| Care for siblings | 119 (34.2) | 30 (34.5) | 15 (55.6) | 1.01 (0.62–1.67) | 2.38 (1.09–5.26)* |
| Waiting period | 100 (28.7) | 22 (25.3) | 10 (37.0) | 0.84 (0.49–1.43) | 1.45 (0.64–3.23) |
| Personal financial cost | 143 (41.1) | 45 (51.7) | 17 (63.0) | 1.54 (0.96–2.44) | 2.44 (1.09–5.56)* |
| Time off work | 93 (26.7) | 29 (33.3) | 13 (48.1) | 1.37 (0.83–2.27) | 2.56 (1.15–5.56)* |
| Lack of services | 43 (12.4) | 13 (14.9) | 10 (37.0) | 1.25 (0.64–2.44) | 4.17 (1.79–10.00)* |
| Experienced ≥ 3 barriers | 112 (32.2) | 38 (43.7) | 18 (66.7) | 1.64 (1.01–2.63)* | 4.17 (1.82–10.00)* |
ASGC Australian standard geographical classification, OR odds ratio, CI confidence interval. aASGC 1: major cities of Australia, ASGC 2: inner regional Australia, ASGC 3: outer regional Australia, ASGC 4: remote Australia, ASGC 5: very remote Australia. *P < 0.05