Demand and utilization of health services in rural areas in Chuxiong of Yunnan Province

To investigate the demand and utilization of health services in rural areas in Chuxiong of Yunnan Province,and provide evidence for regional health planning of Yunnan province. Stratified-cluster sampling and questionnaires were used to investigate and analyze the demand and utilization of health services in 5449 rural residents(1200 households in three small towns) in Chuxiong. The two-week prevalence rate was 7.7%.The prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 5.1%.Sick persons who did not seek medical care accounted for 10.5%.Sick persons absent for hospitalization accounted for 5.1%.The main reasons for the difference between demand and utilization were low income and lack of health consciousness. Factors that may influence the health service demand of residents represent as sex,age,education,and so on.Economic conditions and the access to health services may influence the health service utilization of residents.We should carry out health education,enhance the health awareness in rural residents,pay more attention to the health status of women and aged people,and appropriately allocate health resources to improve the demand and utilization of health services.