Residential segregation and the availability of primary care physicians.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the association between residential segregation and geographic access to primary care physicians (PCPs) in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).

Data sources

We combined zip code level data on primary care physicians from the 2006 American Medical Association master file with demographic, socioeconomic, and segregation measures from the 2000 U.S. Census. Our sample consisted of 15,465 zip codes located completely or partially in an MSA.

Methods

We defined PCP shortage areas as those zip codes with no PCP or a population to PCP ratio of >3,500. Using logistic regressions, we estimated the association between a zip code's odds of being a PCP shortage area and its minority composition and degree of segregation in its MSA.

Principal findings

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SUBMITTER: Gaskin DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3416972 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature