Health care equity and access for marginalised young people: a longitudinal qualitative study exploring health system navigation in Australia

Table 3 Sociodemographic and sociocultural characteristics of baseline sample (n = 41)

	N (%)
Gender
Female (two gender diverse)	30 (73.2)
Male (two gender diverse)	8 (19.5)
Other (all gender diverse)	3 (7.3%)
Education
High school	12 (29.3)
Intensive English Centre (IEC) high school	2 (4.9)
Full-time tertiary studies	15 (36.6)
Part-time tertiary studies	2 (4.9)
Not studying at all	9 (22.0)
Current employment
In full-time paid work	4 (9.8)
In part-time or casual work	16 (39.0)
Unemployed, looking for work	8 (19.5)
Unemployed, not looking for work, studying	8 (19.5)
Unable to work due to sickness or disability	3 (7.3)
A carer or doing home duties full time or part time	1 (2.4)
Other (volunteer work)	1 (2.4)
Internet and mobile access
Internet access	37 (90.2)
Other internet access	3 (7.3)
No internet access	1 (2.4)
Youth allowance, Medicare care, Healthcare card, Private Health Insurance
Own Medicare card^a	28 (68.3)
Healthcare card^b	20 (48.8)
Youth allowance^c	15 (36.6)

^aA government issued card that enables access to a range of medical services and prescriptions at a lower cost, and free care as a public patient in a public hospital. Young people are eligible to get their own card that is separate from their family card from 15 years of age
^bA concession card issued by the government to enable access to subsidised medicines
^cGovernment financial assistance for young people aged 24 or younger who are studying, doing an apprenticeship, looking for work or who have a health condition

ISSN: 1475-9276