Table 2 Definition of variables

Satisfaction with healthcare services:

1 = satisfied, 0 = not satisfied

Explanatory variable

Self-perceived health (SAH):

1 = Excellent, 2 = good, 3 = average, 4 = poor, 5 = worst

Confounding factors

Socio-economic strata (SES):

quintile 1 = poorest, 2 = poor, 3 = middle group, 4 = affluent, 5 = richest

Living standard (condition) variables in the survey used in principal component analysis (PCA) to create the SES measure: type of dwelling unit (1 = detached house, 0 = other); ownership of the residence (1 = own, 0 = don’t own); connected to the centralized sanitary (sewerage) services (1 = yes, 0 = no); crowding (square metre living space available per household member); toilet outside the dwelling unit (1 = yes, 0 = no); access to a computer with internet at home (1 = yes, 0 = no); production on household owned agricultural land (1 = yes, 0 = no); and ownership of livestock/cattle (1 = yes, 0 = no)

Presence of chronic disease:

Diagnosed with high blood pressure (1 = yes, 0 = no)

Use of healthcare services:

(1 = yes, 0 = no)

Coverage with BBP (Basic benefit package):

1 = yes, 2 = no

Recipient of poverty benefit: 1 = yes, 2 = no

Settlement of residence:

capital city, urban, rural

Dwelling condition (a self-perceived expression as a response to the question ‘please evaluate your housing condition’):

1 = good; 2 = satisfactory, 3 = bad

Used medical services in the last thirty days:

1 = once, 2 = twice, 3 = more than twice

Education:

1 = below secondary school, 2 = secondary school (including vocational training), 3 = college and above

Demography:

age (15 years and above) and gender (1 = male and 0 = female)

Geography of residence:

Region (Capital city, Yerevan; other regions are: Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Sjunik, Tavush and Vayots Dzor)

Year of survey: 2010, 2011, and 2012.