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Measuring Access to Health Services: Constructing a Multidimensional Index

Author

Listed:
  • Aníbal M. Blanco

    ((Universidad Nacional del Sur - CONICET))

  • Gisela P. González

    ((Universidad Nacional del Sur - CONICET)
    Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS))

  • Milva Geri

    ((Universidad Nacional del Sur - CONICET)
    Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS))

  • M. Susana Moreno

    ((Universidad Nacional del Sur - CONICET))

Abstract

Access to health services is a multidimensional and multistage phenomenon. Despite the extensive development of the theoretical framework of access to health care, until now, no indices have been developed to measure all its dimensions and stages. In this work, we propose an index for measuring the multidimensional access to health services, considering nine dimensions of this phenomenon and a questionnaire format that allows obtaining information for its calculation and application. The proposed index is continuous, monotonic, and can be decomposed according to dimensions and services. At the same time, our index considers the subjectivity in the patient valuation of each dimension throughout the different stages of health access. As a case study, we applied the proposed methodology to a medium-sized city in Argentina, determining the relationship of the index with socioeconomic factors and its spatial distribution. Although no clear geographic pattern emerged from the results, statistically significant relationships were found with socioeconomic factors such as gender identity, educational level, activity status, and type of health insurance of the household head.

Suggested Citation

  • Aníbal M. Blanco & Gisela P. González & Milva Geri & M. Susana Moreno, 2025. "Measuring Access to Health Services: Constructing a Multidimensional Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 903-929, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:176:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03489-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03489-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 7 - Data and Analysis," OPHI Working Papers 88, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    2. Alkire, Sabina & Foster, James & Seth, Suman & Santos, Maria Emma & Roche, Jose Manuel & Ballon, Paola, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199689491, Decembrie.
    3. Rodriguez Santana, Idaira & Mason, Anne & Gutacker, Nils & Kasteridis, Panagiotis & Santos, Rita & Rice, Nigel, 2023. "Need, demand, supply in health care: working definitions, and their implications for defining access," Health Economics, Policy and Law, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 2 - The Framework," OPHI Working Papers 83, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    5. Viberg, Nina & Forsberg, Birger C. & Borowitz, Michael & Molin, Roger, 2013. "International comparisons of waiting times in health care – Limitations and prospects," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 53-61.
    6. Sabina Alkire & James Foster, 2011. "Understandings and misunderstandings of multidimensional poverty measurement," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 9(2), pages 289-314, June.
    7. Pablo Cabrera-Barona & Thomas Blaschke & Stefan Kienberger, 2017. "Explaining Accessibility and Satisfaction Related to Healthcare: A Mixed-Methods Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 719-739, September.
    8. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, Jose M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 9 - Distribution and Dynamics," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp090_ch9.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    9. Priyanka Saksena & Justine Hsu & David B Evans, 2014. "Financial Risk Protection and Universal Health Coverage: Evidence and Measurement Challenges," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-11, September.
    10. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, José M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 7 - Data and Analysis," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp088_ch7.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    11. Aoun, Nael & Matsuda, Hirotaka & Sekiyama, Makiko, 2015. "Geographical accessibility to healthcare and malnutrition in Rwanda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 135-145.
    12. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 9 - Distribution and Dynamics," OPHI Working Papers 90, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    13. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, José M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 2 - The Framework," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp083_ch2.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
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