Research article

Gender differences in the use of transportation services to community rehabilitation programs

Nanako Tamiya^{* 1} , Li-Mei Chen^{* 2} , Yasuki Kobayashi^{* 3} , Mariko Kaneda^{* 4} and Eiji Yano^{* 5}

¹Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenno-Dai, Tsukuba-Shi, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan

²School of Human Welfare Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-155 Ichiban-Cho, Uegahara, Nishinomiya-Shi, Hyogo, 662-8501, Japan

³Department of Public Health, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

⁴Arakawa City Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2-2-3 Arakawa, Arakawa-ku Tokyo, 116-8501, Japan

⁵Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-8605, Japan

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Geriatrics 2009, 9:24doi:10.1186/1471-2318-9-24

Published:	27 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Prevention and reduction of disability among community-dwelling older adults have been an important health policy concern in Japan. Moreover, it has also become a gendered issue due to the recent rapid growth in older females than males with disability living in their own homes. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a gender difference in the use of community rehabilitation programs in Japan, and if so, whether the lack of transportation services and accompanying caregivers are the reasons for the gender difference.

Methods

This study was based on surveys of the program administrators and the primary caregivers of the program participants from 55 randomly selected community rehabilitation programs (CRP) in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics of program participants, types of transportation services provided by the CRP, caregiver's relationship to participant, and the nature of family support. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted.

Results

Although there were more females than males with disability residing in communities, our findings showed that females were less likely to use CRP than males (1.3% and 2.3%, respectively; X² = 93.0, p < 0.0001). Lower CRP use by females was related to lower availability of transportation services (36% without transportation service and 46% door-to-door services) and fewer caregivers accompanying the participants to CRP.

Conclusion

This study builds on previous research findings, which suggest gender inequality in access to CRP.