Disability-Related Disparities in Preventive Healthcare Access in South Korea: Insights From National Health Insurance Data
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives: To examine disability-related disparities in participation in national health screenings in South Korea and to determine how these gaps vary by disability severity, type, and socio-economic factors. Methods: A trend analysis of screening participation from 2012 to 2020 and multivariable logistic regression for 2019-2020 were conducted using the National Health Insurance Service database, linking eligibility, health screening, and disability registration data. The cohort comprised 10,413,089 adults aged ≥40 years (20% population sample). Annual screening uptake was the outcome; predictors included disability status, severity, type, employment, sex, income, insurance, and region. Results: Screening uptake rose overall between 2012 and 2020 yet remained lower for people with disabilities, particularly those with severe physical, visual, communication, mental, developmental, epilepsy, and internal disabilities. Age-sex standardization and socio-economic adjustment attenuated but did not remove gaps. Employment narrowed disparities, whereas women with disabilities faced wider gaps than men. Conclusion: Despite nationwide gains, disability-related inequities in preventive screening persist, amplified by severe impairment, unemployment, and female gender. Policies should prioritize accessible facilities, targeted outreach, and socio-economic support to ensure equitable screening for people with disabilities.
Authors: Sujin Kim, Boyoung Jeon
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,775
Award: G2795593720
OpenAlex ID: W4416233476