This study was performed to investiagte the prevalence of chronic disease and utilization of medical facility in rural area. 5.797 persons were randomly selected from 28,883 rural residents who were over 30 years old and living in Moonkyung city
in
Kyungsangpook Province during the period October 1 1993 to February 28 1994.
The person prevalence rate was 336 per 1.000. The prevalence rate in men(278 per 1.000) was higher than that(388 per 1.000) in women. The spell prevalence rate in men(367) was significantly higher than that(425) in women (p<0.05).
The prevalence was increased with the age, 106 in the 30's, 223 in the40's, 336 in the 50's, 407 in the 60's and 457 in the age group of 70 above.
Of all chronic diseases, the prevalence of neuralgia ranked first(128), chronic gastrointestinal disorders(64), degenerative arthritis(54), hypertension (44) and diabetes (14) were followed in descending order. In men, the prevalence of neuralgia
ranked
first. chronic gastrointestinal disorders, degenerative arthritis, hypertension and bronchial asthma were followed in descending order. In women, the prevalence of neuralgia ranked first. degenerative arthritis, chronic gastrointestinal
disorders,
hypertension and diabetes were followed in descending order.
The prevalences of neuralgia, degenerative arthritis and hypertension were significantly higher in women than those in men, however, those of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary tuberculosis and liver cirrhosis in men were significantly higher than
those
in women(p<0.05).
Most patients with chronic diseases were more likely to utilize hospital and/or local clinics than public health facility or community health providers. Patients with neuralgia, degenerative arthritis and bronchial asthma tended to utilizing
local
clinics initially, however, they were changed to visit public health facility or community health providers afterwards. Patients with hypertension or pulmonary tuberculosis were more likely to visit public health facility, however, those with
diabetes,
cancer, heart failure, CVD, liver cirrhosis were more likely to visit hospital.
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