Student access to primary health care and preventive health screening at a school-based health centre in South Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Aims. To determine where students usually access primary health care and compare the quality of preventive health services that students who use the school-based health centre (SBHC) receive to those who go elsewhere for health care. Methods. A convenience sample of 20 classes were selected and surveyed in 2003. Three hundred and forty-three students completed the Young Adult Health Care Survey using a web-based questionnaire. Results. While most students (79%) access health care from their family doctor, a significant number (40%) of students attended the SBHC in the last 12 months. Overall, health screening and preventive counselling from health care providers was low. Students who used the SBHC were more likely to received private and confidential health care and preventive screening than students who go elsewhere for health care. Conclusion. School-based health care provides additional access to health care that does not appear to replace traditional family practice based health care. While the SBHC appears to deliver better quality preventive health services for adolescents compared to traditional primary health care, improvements are needed across all primary health care settings.