Access to ophthalmologic care in Thailand: a regional analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Southeast Asian countries have ≥ 1 ophthalmologist per 100,000 persons, equally distributed in urban and rural areas. However, regional patterns of eye care have been poorly characterized. This study investigates the distribution of ophthalmologists in Thailand and provides regional estimates of access to ophthalmologists.


METHODS
We geocoded the work address of ophthalmologists listed in the 2008 directory of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand. We determined the number of ophthalmologists per 100,000 persons at the national, provincial, and district levels using data from the 2000 Thai Population Census, and assessed demographic factors associated with meeting the WHO recommendation of ≥ 1 ophthalmologist per 100,000 persons.


RESULTS
In 2008, Thailand had 1.52 ophthalmologists per 100,000 persons; however, only 20 of 76 provinces (26%) and 134 of 926 districts (14%) met the WHO recommendation of ≥ 1 ophthalmologist per 100,000 persons. District factors associated with not meeting the WHO recommendation included a high proportion of children, a high proportion of elderly, and a high proportion of rural residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Thailand meets the WHO's goal for access to ophthalmologic care, but the distribution of ophthalmologists is uneven, with less access to ophthalmologic care in rural areas.
Department of Internal Medicine, Exempla St. Joseph Hospital , Denver, CO , USA .
Christopher B
CB
Estopinal
Somsanguan
S
Ausayakhun
Sakarin
S
Ausayakhun
Choeng
C
Jirawison
S
S
Joy Bhosai
Todd P
TP
Margolis
Jeremy D
JD
Keenan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult