الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 166 |  |  |
| | | from | 166 | | |
Abstract
Background: More than half of Egyptian population (57%) living in rural areas according to Egypt Health Profile, (2011), especially poor rural areas, have access to fewer health care resources. Improving resources allocation of health care greatly influence on health services utilization. Equity is an ethical concept. Equity in healthcare includes equal access to available care for equal need, and equal quality of care for all.
Objectives: To describe maternal health services utilization among urban and rural women. Assess resources allocation needed for maternal health services in urban and rural health facilities. Determine accessibility of selected health facilities. Assess equity of distribution and utilization of maternal health services between urban and rural strata in Zagazig district, Sharkia Governorate.
Subjects& Methods: multistage stratified random study was conducted on 400 married women in child bearing period. The calculated sample was collected from four primary health care facilities; these facilities were chosen randomly. Women were interviewed by predesigned questionnaire. Utilization rates were estimated and compared regarding residence. Resources were assessed by resources allocation checklist which adapted from Egyptian ministry of health. Assessment of inequity was carried out by simple and gradient measures.
Results: the study revealed high utilization rate to maternal health services (included antenatal- natal- postnatal and family planning services) in urban facilities than in rural ones. Availability of most of health resources needed for providing the services in urban units with their limitation and even unavailability in rural units. Universal geographical accessibility was confirmed with significant difference to financial accessibility regarding residence. There was high residence inequity in utilization of health services. Socioeconomic status affect variably on service utilization.
Conclusion: residence affect greatly on health services utilization, urban residence more likely to use health services more than rural one. Residence inequity was confirmed. Socioeconomic status as a social determinant affects health service utilization equity with variable extent by positive or negative association.