Gender differences in cost-related unmet healthcare needs: a national study in Turkiye

• Published in: BMC public health 2024-09, Vol.24 (1), p.2413-15, Article 2413
• Main Authors: Davas, Aslı, Etiler, Nilay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analysis; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Communication; Cost analysis; Cost-related unmet healthcare need; Demographic aspects; Dependent variables; Economic aspects; Education; Education, Higher; Female; Gender; Gender aspects; Gender disparities Healthcare access Andersen Behavioral Model; Health care; Health care access; Health care disparities; Health care industry; Health insurance; Health problems; Health services; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Surveys; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Independent variables; Male; Medical care, Cost of; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Men; Middle Aged; Population studies; Regression analysis; Regression models; Secondary analysis; Sex (Biology); Sex differences; Sex Factors; Social aspects; Socioeconomic Factors; Subgroups; Surveys; Turkey; Unmet healthcare need; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19878-9

Unmet healthcare needs are a complex and multifaceted issue, influenced by individual, socioeconomic, and healthcare system factors. This study aimed to investigate the determinants influencing cost-related unmet healthcare needs within the Turkish population, emphasizing a comprehensive analysis of gender disparities in accessing healthcare services. This secondary analysis scrutinizes the 2019 Turkiye Health Survey data of 16,976 individuals aged 15 and older. The dependent variables included cost-related unmet medical, dental, and prescribed medication, and mental services. The independent variables were considered under a three-domain approach for the determination of health service utilization, developed by Andersen. Logistic regression models with predisposing, enabling, and need factors were run for any self-perceived cost-related unmet need for each sex and overall population. Another six regression models for both sexes were run for each subgroup of indivuals with unmet healthcare needs. The study revealed that 15.4% of individuals cannot access healthcare due to financial constraints, with 16.8% for women and 13.5% for men. The highest level of unmet needs is associated with accessing dental care services for both sexes. According to multivariate analyses, the unmet need for both sexes decreases with older age and higher education level, and it is greater for those who have difficulties communicating in Turkish. By adding enabling and needs factors, the odds ratios of education decreased for men, while education became nonsignificant for women. Having chronic disease impacts unmet needs for both sexes. However, the inability to perform daily activities due to health problems was not a significant factor for men. Poorer household income increases overall unmet needs. Education is a determinant of both medical and mental care needs. This pioneering study illuminates the multifaceted gender disparities in cost-related unmet healthcare needs across Turkiye, reflecting the intertwined issues of access influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Our findings underscore the significance of adopting an intersectional approach to address health inequalities.