| Abstract: | Background and Purpose: Urinary tract infection is a common disease in women and also an easily neglected preventive health care problem. Like their general counterpart, female with intellectual disabilities may also experience various feminine health problems. The purpose of this study was to employ National Health Insurance Database to explore risk factors of urinary tract infection and ambulatory utilization among women with intellectual disabilities. Method: A cross-section study was conducted. Female beneficiaries with intellectual disabilities suffering with urinary tract infection were selected from 2007 National Health Insurance Outpatient Claimed Database. The utilization and determinants of ambulatory service of study subjects were analyzed and compared. Result: In 2007, among 42840 subjects, 2727of them suffering from urinary tract infections, the prevalence rate was 6.4%. The average age of infection was 35.4, and most cases were lower urinary tract infections. This study found mean annual outpatient visits caused by urinary tract infections was 3.0, and annual average medical expense was 2,841 NT$. The gynecology and urology clinics were the primary healthcare facilities research subjects sought for medical advices. The binary logistic regression analysis showed women aged 65 and above had higher risk of urinary tract infection than younger subjects (OR=5.01); those with diabetes, urinary incontinence or atrophic vaginitis were also more likely to have urinary tract infections (OR=1.88, OR=8.94 and OR=2.65, respectively). The multiple regression analysis suggested demographic variables, complication with other diseases, days of antibiotic prescribed, and urinary tests fee were main factors affecting medical expenditures among women with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion: For women with intellectual disabilities, age and complication with other diseases were major risk factors for urinary tract infection, and physician clinics were main source of their medical care. Therefore, to reduce urinary tract infections and have better quality of life of this group, health authorities should consider implement more measures, such as urinary tract infections screening and tracking among high-risk groups, and provide urinary tract health care education to mid-age women. |
