Factors Influencing Utilization of Preventive Health Services in Primary Health Care in the Republic of Serbia

The use of preventive health services is a long-term health investment due to its potential to help individuals to take care of their health. This study aimed to explore the availability and performance of health services in primary health care (PHC) in the domain of general practice (GP), pediatrics, and gynecology, as well as to analyze the influence of sociodemographic and health determinants on the utilization of preventive health services. This descriptive study used data from the National Health Insurance Fund and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia for 2015 and included 149 independent PHC units. The relationship between the utilization of preventive services and sociodemographic and health characteristics of the population was analyzed by bivariate and multivariate linear regression models. The higher health expenditure per capita and noncommunicable diseases mortality rate were, the more preventive health services were provided by a chosen GP. Children with a higher completion rate of primary school (p = 0.024), higher health expenditure (p = 0.017), and higher life expectancy at birth (p = 0.041) had more preventive health services. The fertility rate was positively associated with the number of preventive health services per 1000 women (p = 0.033). Our findings should serve as a starting point for where efforts should be made to achieve better health outcomes.