Women living in remote areas of Australia had the least number of pathology services per year and those living in major cities had the most (Figure 52). The area of residence difference in service use increased with age. For the 1973-78 cohort, the mean number of pathology services was similar across all areas of residence between ages of 20 and 27. Between ages 33 and 39 years, women living in major cities had 1 to 2 more pathology services per year compared to women living in remote areas. For the 1946-51 cohort, women living in major cities had an average of 2 to 3 more pathology services per year than women living in remote areas. Area of residence differences were greatest in the 1921-26 cohort, with the mean number of pathology services per year ranging from 7 to 19 for women living in major cities, 6 to 14 for regional areas, and 4 to 13 for remote areas. Figure 52. Mean annual number of pathology services for women across the life course 1946-51, 1921-26 cohorts), categorised by area of residence. There was very little difference in pathology service use according to education (Figure 53). For the 1973-78 cohort, university-educated women had the lowest number of pathology services between ages 20 and 27, whereas women with qualifications less than Year 12 had the highest pathology services. This difference reversed between ages of 30 and 36, although the differences at these ages were small. For the 1921-26 cohort, between the ages of 81 and 87, women who had a university degree had approximately 2 more pathology services per year than women with less than Year 12 education. Figure 53. Mean annual number of pathology services for women across the life course 1946-51, 1921-26 cohorts), categorised by highest education level. In all cohorts, there was very little difference in pathology service use by difficulty managing on income (Figure 54). For the 1946-51 cohort, women who had difficulty managing on their income had slightly higher use of pathology services. Similarly, between the ages of 78 and 84, women in the 1921-26 cohort who had difficulty managing on their income had higher pathology services (approximately 11-16 mean services per year) than women who found it easier to manage on their income (approximately 10-14 mean services per year). We have shown that women who had difficulty managing on income had poorer physical functioning () and health overall ().
Women living in remote areas of Australia had the least number of pathology services per year and those living in major cities had the most (Figure 52). The area of residence difference in service use increased with age. For the 1973-78 cohort, the mean number of pathology services was similar across all areas of residence between ages of 20 and 27. Between ages 33 and 39 years, women living in major cities had 1 to 2 more pathology services per year compared to women living in remote areas. For the 1946-51 cohort, women living in major cities had an average of 2 to 3 more pathology services per year than women living in remote areas. Area of residence differences were greatest in the 1921-26 cohort, with the mean number of pathology services per year ranging from 7 to 19 for women living in major cities, 6 to 14 for regional areas, and 4 to 13 for remote areas. Figure 52. Mean annual number of pathology services for women across the life course 1946-51, 1921-26 cohorts), categorised by area of residence. There was very little difference in pathology service use according to education (Figure 53). For the 1973-78 cohort, university-educated women had the lowest number of pathology services between ages 20 and 27, whereas women with qualifications less than Year 12 had the highest pathology services. This difference reversed between ages of 30 and 36, although the differences at these ages were small. For the 1921-26 cohort, between the ages of 81 and 87, women who had a university degree had approximately 2 more pathology services per year than women with less than Year 12 education. Figure 53. Mean annual number of pathology services for women across the life course 1946-51, 1921-26 cohorts), categorised by highest education level. In all cohorts, there was very little difference in pathology service use by difficulty managing on income (Figure 54). For the 1946-51 cohort, women who had difficulty managing on their income had slightly higher use of pathology services. Similarly, between the ages of 78 and 84, women in the 1921-26 cohort who had difficulty managing on their income had higher pathology services (approximately 11-16 mean services per year) than women who found it easier to manage on their income (approximately 10-14 mean services per year). We have shown that women who had difficulty managing on income had poorer physical functioning () and health overall ().