Title of article :
Economic inequalities in dental care utilizations in Iran: Evidence from an urban region
Author/Authors :
Homaie Rad, Enayatollah Department of Health Economics and Management - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Kavosi, Zahra Department of Health Management - School of Health Management and Informatics - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Arefnezhad, Masoud Department of Health Economics and Management - School of Public Health - Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Health utilization inequality is a major concern for health policymakers. Equality in
utilization of services is very important for having a healthy society. The aim of this study was to
describe inequality in dental care utilization in Iran, Therefore, concentration index, its curve, and the
predictors of inequality in utilization of dental services and their spending were calculated.
Methods: Data of a health utilization survey which previously had been gathered in Shiraz, Iran
were used for this study. Tobit and Poisson estimators were used to estimate utilization and out of
pocket models. Furthermore, concentration index and curve was calculated to show inequality in
dental care utilization.
Results: High inequalities was found in dental care utilization in Iran (concentration index=0.19).
In the utilization model, the relationship between income and utilization was positive. People with
higher income could utilize more services. Being covered by insurance increased the probability of
dental care utilizations too.
Conclusion: Policy makers must find solutions like increase the coverage of dental insurances to
decrease inequality in dental care utilization.
Keywords :
Shiraz , Concentration curve , Concentration index , Inequality , Dental Services
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
