Does the density of the health workforce predict adolescent health? A cross-sectional, multilevel study of 38 countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scant evidence exists on the relation between the availability of health professionals and adolescent health, and whether the size of the health workforce equally benefits adolescents across socioeconomic strata.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adolescent health in 38 countries. Data from 218 790 adolescents were drawn from the 2013/2014 Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey. We used multilevel regression analyses to examine the association between the density of the health workforce and psychosomatic and mental health symptoms with differences in country wealth and income inequality controlled.

Results

A higher density of psychologists was associated with better self-reported mental health in adolescents (P = 0.047); however, th

SUBMITTER: Riehm KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6459357 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature