Social differences in the utilization of medical services by children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study

Data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) enable conclusions about the utilization of outpatient and inpatient medical services by children and adolescents accounting the family’s socioeconomic status (SES). Results from the second follow-up to the KiGGS survey (KiGGS Wave 2), which covers the years 2014 to 2017, clearly demonstrate that children and adolescents from families with a low SES visit specialists in general medicine, gynaecologists and psychiatrists, as well as child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists more frequently. In contrast, children and adolescents from families with a high SES visit paediatric, dermatological, dental and orthodontic practices more often. No statistically significant differences between the status groups with regard to the utilization of outpatient medical services in hospitals were identified. However, children and adolescents from the low status group received inpatient hospital treatment more frequently and, on average, spent more nights in hospital. These results reflect status-specific differences both in disease prevalence and care, as well as in patterns related to the utilization of medical services.