Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

situations relating to using services for chronic
diseases was noticed among those living below the
poverty line and among Roma people (70 percent
and 66 percent respectively). There was no
significant change in the usage of health services
among the overall population compared to 2003.
The percentage of the population which
reported that due to their chronic diseases they were
limited in performing everyday activities was 19
percent, whereas the percentage for population over
60 years was 48 percent. Respondents from the two
lowest quintiles had more frequent problems due to
their diseases than those in the two highest quintiles
(25 percent as opposed to 14 percent). Compared to
2003, the proportion of respondents limited in their
everyday activities was lower by 2 percentage
points (from 21 percent in 2003 to 19 percent in
2007).
Every tenth respondent (or 10 percent of the
population) suffered from an acute disease or injury
one month prior to the survey. The frequency of
illnesses was higher only among the population
older than 60 years (15 percent).
7.4. Use of Health Services
In 2007, 35 percent of the population used
health services in health institutions (outpatient
health services in the month preceding the study,
and hospital treatment in the preceding 12 months).
Females were more likely to use services than
males, as well as those aged over 45 years,
particularly those aged of 65 years and older (58
percent). Urban residents were more likely to use
health services (37 percent compared to 32 percent
in other areas). Significantly less usage was
observed by the poor and socially vulnerable (24
percent of those living below the poverty line, 26
percent of the uninsured, 22 percent of the
unemployed and 25 percent of Roma). In the period
67 percent of the both chronically and acutely ill
population used health services. Characteristics of
the use of health services in the ill population,
regarding all the observed variables, correspond to
those previously described for the overall
population. The only observed difference was in the
fact that the groups of ill refugees and IDPs joined
the group of those who used health services
significantly less. Significantly less use of services
was observed among the ill population below
poverty the poverty line (52 percent compared to 68
percent above the line), and the uninsured as
opposed to insured persons (56 percent and 68
percent respectively) (Graph 3).
Graph 7.3. Overall and ill population that
used health services (percent)
% population
0 20 40 60 80
Total
Male
Female
35
30
40
67
64
68
0 - 14
29
76
15 - 29
30 - 44
20
24
57
61
45 - 59
38
64
60+
58
70
Urban
Rural
Non poor
37
32
36
68
64
68
Poor 24
52
Poorest
30
59
2
3
4
Richest
Yes
34
35
37
40
36
68
70
70
67
68
No
Roma
26
25
56
61
Refugees &
IDPs
34
64
Unemployed 22
57
Ill citizens who used health services
Citizens who used health services
Gender
Age
Type of
settlement
Poverty
line
Quantiles of consalla
Insurance
In comparison to 2003, in 2007 there was an
increase in the use of health services in general
population by 5 percentage points, and in the ill
population by 8 percentage points (from 30 percent
in 2003 to 35 percent in 2007 and from 59 percent
in 2003 to 67 percent in 2007).
86 Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007