Social Capital And The Use Of Health Services: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Brazilian Older Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate the association between social capital and the use of health services among Brazilian non-institutionalized older adults living in an urban metropolitan area. METHODS: The sample was comprised of 2,052 respondents aged 60 or older. Individual Social Capital was measured by The World Bank Integrated Questionnaire (IQ-MSC) dichotomized in “low” and “high” social Capital. Use of health services, community engagement, familiar functionality, and social demographics were assessed. RESULTS: Individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 73% more likely to have a medical appointment in the 6 months previous to the interview [OR = 1.76; 95%CI 1.19–2.52] compared to the high social capital group. In the opposite direction, individuals who belonged to the low social capital group were 29% less likely to have a dental appointment regularly [OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.51–0.98], were 88% less likely to be engaged in community projects [OR = 0.12; 95%CI 0.09–0.15], and 42% less likely to have a good familiar functionality [OR = 0.58; 95%CI 0.37–0.88], compared to the older adults who had high levels of social capital. Conclusion: Individual low social capital affected the pattern that older adults used health services in the investigated population differently.

Keywords

• social capital
• aging
• social determinants of health