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Assessing Horizontal Equity in the Utilization of Mental Healthcare Services in Turkey: A Gender Perspective

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Abstract

Background

Equity in healthcare services utilization is on the agenda for both research and policy makers, especially after the Millennium Development Goals. Despite the recognition of the importance of mental health services utilization, equity in terms of access has not been widely researched.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the degree and progress of equity in mental healthcare services utilization in Turkey from a gender perspective.

Methods

The Horizontal Inequity (HI) index is calculated using a nationally representative dataset from the Health Surveys (2014 and 2016) conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute. The index is calculated for males, females, and all individuals separately to identify gender differences.

Results

The results from the HI index indicate pro-poor inequities in the utilization of mental healthcare services in Turkey for both 2014 and 2016. For all individuals, the standardized HI indices were found to be − 0.3320 and − 0.3374 for 2014 and 2016, respectively. In 2014, the standardized HI indices were calculated to be − 0.3504 and − 0.3173 for males and females, respectively. In 2016, the HI indices were found to be − 0.3241 and − 0.3541 for females and males, respectively.

Conclusions

There is a great need for gender-focused policies to improve horizontal equity in mental healthcare services utilization.

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Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the Turkish Statistical Institute, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study and so are not publicly available. Data are, however, available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Turkish Statistical Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Beytepe Campus, Ankara, Turkey

    Dilek Başar & Selcen Öztürk

Authors
  1. Dilek Başar
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  2. Selcen Öztürk
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Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the development of the study concept and study design. DB and SÖ carried out the analysis, wrote, read, corrected, and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dilek Başar.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Conflict of interest

Dilek Başar and Selcen Öztürk have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the contents of this article.

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Başar, D., Öztürk, S. Assessing Horizontal Equity in the Utilization of Mental Healthcare Services in Turkey: A Gender Perspective. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 18, 299–309 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-019-00519-x

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