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Impact of primary care coverage on individual health: evidence from biomarkers in Brazil

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  • Fernando Antonio Slaibe Postali
  • Maria Dolores M Diaz, Adriano Dutra Teixeira, Natalia Nunes Ferreira Batista, Rodrigo Moreno Serra

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between primary care coverage and individual health in Brazil, using a dataset of blood and nurse-based biomarkers collected during a national health survey carried out in 2013. Both survey data and laboratory results were crossed with coverage data from the Family Health Strategy (ESF), the largest and most important primary care program in Brazil. The coverage measures aim to capture both direct (household) and indirect (spillover) effects. The empirical strategy uses a probit model to estimate the relationship between ESF coverage and the likelihood of abnormal biomarker levels, controlling for the local availability of health facilities and a rich set of individual and household characteristics coming from the national survey. The results suggest that broader ESF household coverage is linked to a decrease in the likelihood of abnormal results for biomarkers related to anemia, kidney failure and arterial hypertension, as well as for white blood cells and thrombocytes. Intensity of coverage matters for dengue, once its antibodies are negatively correlated with the number of ESF visits received by the household. The spillover effect proved to be relevant for kidney failure, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. Cholesterol did not present any relationship with ESF.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Antonio Slaibe Postali & Maria Dolores M Diaz, Adriano Dutra Teixeira, Natalia Nunes Ferreira Batista, Rodrigo Moreno Serra, 2021. "Impact of primary care coverage on individual health: evidence from biomarkers in Brazil," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2021_01, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    • Handle: RePEc:spa:wpaper:2021wpecon01
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    Cited by:

    1. Natalia Nunes Ferreira‐Batista & Adriano Dutra Teixeira & Maria Dolores Montoya Diaz & Fernando Antonio Slaibe Postali & Rodrigo Moreno‐Serra & James Love‐Koh, 2023. "Is primary health care worth it in the long run? Evidence from Brazil," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1504-1524, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Primary care; Biomarkers; Probit; Impact evaluation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models

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