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The
equity-enhancing effect of primary care resources (primary care to
population ratios) is shown in a study that examined postneonatal mortality
rates in the 50 US states. States with high income inequality have 17% lower
postneonatal mortality if they were well endowed with primary care
physicians, but a 7% higher postneonatal mortality if they were relatively
deprived of primary care physicians. States with relatively even
distribution of income have a small positive effect of relatively high
primary care physician to population ratio and a slightly higher mortality
if primary care resources were relatively low. That is, the importance of
primary care is greatest in socially deprived areas.
Based on data in: Shi L, Starfield B. Primary care, income
inequality, and self-rated health in the United States: a mixed-level
analysis. Int J Health Serv 2000; 30(3):541-555.
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