Morbilidad y atención médica del adolescente

Abstract

Results of a continuous survey performed in 7 Chilean cities and towns are reported. The study included an aleatory sample of 951 homes and 4.192 people with 716 teenagers. Dwellings were visited three times during 1995-96. One half of the families had teenagers. Incidence of acute illnesses was 1,98 person in a year. Prevalence of chronic diseases amounted 4,5%. A 43% out of total cases of illness had medical care. Lack of care was mainly due to self care practices but in 11%, the existence of problems in the health system was reported as the cause for this absence of care. Medical visits were done in 40% by the public health system and 60Ro by the private one. Dental care amounted 1,21 visits per person in each year. Quality of medical care was appraised as good or very good in 82% of the cases and as fair or bad in 18% out of total cases. Families had different types of payment for drugs, clinical tests, medical or dental care. Average cost of an acute illness was US$ 23; a fortnight cost for a chronic disease teenager amounted US$ 43 and each dental visit costed US$ 110.