Health care service consumption is related not only to need and individuals' behavior, but also to factors associated to the supply side of health care market. The new Brazilian Constitution (1988) established the Unified Health Care System (SUS) which is based on universal access to health care services. The system was implemented in 1990. The principle of equity can be identified in the health sector legislation and can be translated as equal opportunity of access to equal needs. This study aimed at evaluating equity in the use of health care services considering two dimensions: geographical and social dimensions. Data came from two general household surveys carried out in 1989 and 1996/1997 by the Brazilian Census Bureau (IBGE). Standardized utilization rates controlled by morbidity and insurance coverage were used to analyze geographical variation. Private expenditure with health insurance and drugs was also compared. Logistic regression was used to test for social inequalities. Results of the study suggest small reduction in inequalities between 1989 and 1996/1997, indicating that Brazilian health care system remains highly unequal.
Equity; Health Care Service Consumption; Health Policy; Health Care Service Utilization; Private Expenditure on Health
