Research note: Gender and the utilisation of health care services in Perth, Australia

This study examines gender differences in the utilisation of health care services in a representative sample from the city of Perth, Australia. The data were collected through interviews. The usual result from such studies, females use health services more frequently than men, was not supported by the findings of this research. the multivariate scenario we formulate to interpret out findings is that the use of health care services is determined by participation in social networks through which personal health status is defined, stress assessed and past experiences with health providers are interpreted. The notion that women use health services more often than men should be regarded more as an hypothesis than a fact.