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Geographic disparities in adult mental health utilization and need for service

Inequalities and Disparities in Health Care and Health: Concerns of Patients, Providers and Insurers

ISBN: 978-0-7623-1474-4, eISBN: 978-1-84950-556-7

Publication date: 12 December 2007

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to examine geographic variations in utilization and need for mental health services. Data for this study were obtained from the 2002 National Survey of American Families. The total sample size was 23,327 adults of aged 18 years and older. Both logistic and linear regression were used to test the possibility of geographical variations. Disparities were found among the 13 U.S. states examined in this study. Results also showed that the percentage of African Americans, state mental health budgets, and mean length of stay in psychiatric hospitals in the state are important predictors of variations in mental health utilization and need variables. These findings suggest that although individual sociodemographic characteristics are important in examining mental health utilization, state characteristics (especially percentage of African Americans, state mental health laws, and mean length of stay in psychiatric hospitals) are also important predictors of variation in utilization of mental health services.

Citation

Ayers, S.L., Jacobs Kronenfeld, J., Kim, S.S., Frimpong, J.A. and Rivers, P.A. (2007), "Geographic disparities in adult mental health utilization and need for service", Jacobs Kronenfeld, J. (Ed.) Inequalities and Disparities in Health Care and Health: Concerns of Patients, Providers and Insurers (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 25), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 201-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0275-4959(07)00009-9

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited