A Community-based Health Service Census: Describing the Client Base

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a census of newly registered clients attending community-based health services in a large health region on the south western outskirts of Sydney to enumerate the client base of these services and to investigate the reach to population groups. Two questionnaires, one for adults and the other for children were administered to all new clients of community, allied and dental health services. These questionnaires collected enhanced demographic information during a three month period that was compared with the resident population. 10,734 new clients were registered. These included 2,638 adults and 3,047 children who were attending community health services. Older adults were over-represented in the adult client population while adults accompanying children to services were largely aged 20-39 years. The data suggest good reach of services to ethnic minority groups when country of birth was considered (32.3% NESB versus 30.4% in the resident population). When language spoken at home was used those who spoke a language other that English at home were under-represented in these data (31.6%) compared to the resident population (39.7%). Adults attending with a child were more likely to be married and to have stayed at school until at least 17 years. The study was the first attempt in NSW to enumerate the client base of community-based health services and was important in demonstrating to staff the value of adequate systems to monitor the use and reach of services. The data suggest a bias of services to more advantaged groups.