Abstract:

Objective To analyze the effects of new rural cooperative medical schemes on the utilization of preventive care services of rural residents and to quantitatively assess the application effects of new rural cooperative medical schemes. Methods Rural residents of the control group did not participate the new rural cooperative medical schemes and rural residents of the participationd group participated the new rural cooperative medical schemes. Survey data of 2004 and 2009 from China health and nutrition survey (CHNS) was adopted to compare the differences of using preventive care services of two groups by the difference-in-difference method. Results The utilization of preventive care services of the participation group was more than that of the control group and the interaction of T*P was statistically significant (P<0.05). The net effect of new rural cooperative medical schemes on the utilization of preventive care services was 1.822. The age, education level, annual per capita income, and four week limitation influenced the utilization of preventive care services. Conclusion The new rural cooperative medical schemes have positive effects on the utilization of preventive care services of rural residents. Some measures should be taken to improve the utilization of preventive care services during the implementation of new rural cooperative medical schemes.

Key words: new rural cooperative medical schemes, utilization for preventive care services, difference-in-difference model