Health of vulnerable groups (Discontinued)

Contact info

Welfare and Health, Social Statistics
Anne-Sofie Dam Bjørkman
+45 3917 3616

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Health of vulnerable groups 2017

This set of statistics documents the use of health services by vulnerable groups compared to that of the rest of the population within the same age group. The statistics are used to find out whether selected vulnerable groups have a different consumption of health services than the rest of the population. The statistics will be published for the first time in 2018, with figures from 2015 upwards.

Statistical presentation

This set of statistics is an annual compilation of vulnerable groups’ use of health services, measured on the basis of selected health indicators, for comparison with that of the rest of the population. The health indicators include contact with the primary sector (general practitioner, medical specialists, dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors etc.) as well as the secondary sector (somatic and psychiatric hospitals). Statistics Denmark has not previously released data on psychiatric hospitals. The first vulnerable group for this set of statistics is Vulnerable children and young persons, as defined in the statistics for Vulnerable children and young persons.

Statistical processing

Data for the statistics is retrieved from the registers for Vulnerable children and young persons, Visits to physicians etc. Hospitalisation rates. The statistical population is identical with the statistics for Vulnerable Children and Young Persons. A control population is created on the basis of the population register and includes the rest of the children and young persons aged 0-22 (at the beginning of the year). Data has been validated in advance for the individual set of statistics, which is why data is not further validated. The two generated populations are coupled with background data (Visits to physicians etc., Hospitalisation rates (and psychiatry) and the population (age, sex and municipality)). Age is age at the end of the year. Tables for Statbank Denmark are created crossing variables and removing sums where they are irrelevant. We have made no standardisation for age and sex.

Relevance

The statistics are relevant for citizens, authorities and organisations as a knowledge base for vulnerable groups’ use of the primary and secondary health services in Denmark. In future, the plan is to extend the statistics to include more vulnerable groups and data on the consumption of medicinal products. This would increase the utility of the statistics. The statistics were presented to Statistics Denmark’s user committee for Welfare statistics in 2018.

Accuracy and reliability

In connection with the creation of the population, it should be noted that differences in the municipal case management systems imply that the municipalities do not register information about vulnerable children and young persons in the exact same way and systematically. This may result in inconsistency from one municipality to the next as to exactly which children and young persons to include in the population. We do not know the size of this source of error, nor do we know how much it affects the accuracy of the statistics. Furthermore, you should note that the statistical population also includes children and young persons with physical disabilities who – due to their disabilities – have been removed from parental care or have support measures. We do not currently know the size of this group.

Timeliness and punctuality

This set of statistics is published within the subsequent calendar year. The population of Vulnerable children and young persons must first be defined for the year before the statistics can be released

Comparability

In its present form with Statistics Denmark, the statistics are compiled for a period from 2015-2017 and are comparable in the period.

Accessibility and clarity

The publication date appears from the scheduled releases. The date will be confirmed in the weeks ahead.