Abstract

CHAVEZ-COURTOIS, Mayra  and  CASANUEVA, Esther. Use of maternal-infant preventative health services in a group of Mexican women. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2005, vol.7, n.1, pp.16-25. ISSN 0124-0064.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that promote the use of health services in a group of women of reproductive age from a gender perspective. METHOD: A retrospective and analytical study based on a questionnaire on maternal infant mortality of fifty women (users and non-users of preventative health services) in health centers in Mexico City was carried out. A conglomerate analysis of averages was executed. An analysis of variance was done to evaluate the fitness of the model. The statistical analysis was done using the SPSS statistical package version 12.0. RESULTS: Planning of the last pregnancy, including having had sexual relations with the intention of procreation, was the behavior that showed a significant difference (p=0.001) between users and non-users of preventative health services. Social-demographic characteristics (age, education level, martial status, woman’s occupation) did not reveal any differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Reproductive planning could be an indicator of preventative behavior in the use of preventative health services.

Keywords : Women; prevention and control; health services; gender; Mexico.

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