Beliefs about the public and private health care systems in Chile: Similarities and differences

Abstract

To evaluate users' beliefs regarding the public versus private health- care system in Chile, considering ethnicity, socioeconomic level, and health- care affiliation. Using a non-experimental and cross-sectional design, a non- probabilistic sample of 337 users responded to a questionnaire about beliefs associated with both systems. Mean differences were evaluated according to ethnicity, socioeconomic level, and affiliation. It was found that the overall sample holds more negative beliefs about the public system and more positive beliefs about the private system. Additionally, regarding the public healthcare system, indigenous people have more positive beliefs, while non-indigenous people have more negative beliefs. Finally, it was found that individuals with a high socioeconomic level have more positive beliefs about the private health- care system compared to those with a low socioeconomic level. On the other hand, individuals with a high socioeconomic level have more negative beliefs and less positive beliefs than those with a low socioeconomic level regarding the public healthcare system. These findings can be understood in light of cer- tain stereotypes associated with healthcare systems. This is relevant because analyzing beliefs considering users' sociodemographic characteristics allows for the development of strategies that strengthen healthcare systems and redu- ce social inequities.