Impact Of Social Capital , Gender And Education On The Utilization Of Public Health Services: A Cross Sectional Study Based On The China Migrant Dynamic Survey
Abstract Background: China is making every effort to promote equal access to public health services(PHS) for the internal migrants. Studies have demonstrated that the impact of social capital on PHS is different among subgroups of people. Clarifying these differences will help China accurately promote the equalization of PHS for the internal migrants and provide reference for other developing countries.Methods: Data from the China Migrant Dynamic Survey of 2017, involving 130642 migrants in 31 provinces were used to clarify the complex relationship between social capital and the utilization of National Essential Public Health Services (NEPHS). Social capital was divided into regional cognitive social capital (RCSC), regional structural social capital (RSSC), individual cognitive social capital (ICSC), and individual structural social capital (ISSC). Then, multi-level logistic regression was conducted to analyze their impacts on the utilization of NEPHS of the migrants, and whether such effects are moderated by gender and education. Results: The results suggest: (1) There are significant differences in the levels of CSC, SSC, and NEPHS utilization between different genders and educational subgroups of the migrants, among which the educational difference is more prominent. (2) An interaction exists between the levels and dimensions of social capital and NEPHS projects. Also, the impact of SSC on NEPHS is always greater than that of CSC at the same level. (3) The effects of RCSC, RSSC, ICSC, and ISSC on NEPHS utilization by migrants are not moderated by gender. However, education could weaken the relationship between RCSC and health education, ISSC and health education, and RSSC and health records but strengthen the correlation between RSSC and health education. Conclution: This study demonstrated complex interactions between the dimensions and levels of social capital, NEPHS projects, and the population characteristics of migrants. As the government strives towards the equalization of NEPHS, these interactions should be fully considered.