Determinants of the Health Consultation Rate of Children and Adolescents

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the main socioeconomic determinants of the health consultation rate and the frequency of visits for a sample of children and adolescents from the cities of Santiago, Concepción and Valparaíso. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the most important explanatory variables of both decisions are the nutritional level of the minors, their age and their eligibility for the National Supplementary Feeding Program (PNAC). The policy recommendation arising from this finding is that one way to increase the consultation rate and the frequency of visits is by expanding the target population of the PNAC. This is because an increase in its coverage would have very positive effects on the health levels of children and on their nutritional level.