title: Equity of access to mental health care for anxiety and depression among different ethnic groups in four large cities in the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored (in)equities between ethnic groups in the Netherlands regarding their access to health care for symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were used from a health survey conducted in four Dutch cities in 2008, including 11,678 Dutch, 700 Turkish, 571 Moroccans, 956 Surinamese and 226 Antilleans/Arubans. The prevalence of a medium to high risk of having CMD per ethnic group and of health care consumption by ethnic groups of people, likely having CMD, was calculated, using SPSS Complex Samples weighting for gender, age and district. Logistic regression models were used for assessing the association between health care utilisation and need, demographic factors, social structure and enabling resources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of a medium to high risk of having CMD was 42.9 % (Dutch), 50.3 % (Turkish), 37.3 % (Moroccans), 51.5 % (Surinamese) and 44.9 % (Antilleans/Arubans). The 1-year prevalence of contacts with the general practitioner by ethnic groups of people who were likely having CMD was 81.2 % (Dutch), 87.2 % (Turkish), 88.4 % (Moroccans), 88.6 % (Surinamese) and 76.6 % (Antilleans/Arubans). Concerning specialised mental health care, this one-year prevalence was 15.9 % (Dutch), 25.8 % (Turkish), 19.7 % (Moroccans), 17.1 % (Surinamese) and 20.5 % (Antilleans/Arubans). The elevated use of health care by some ethnic minority groups was partly associated with need and demographic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no indications for an inequitable access to health care for symptoms of CMD among different ethnic groups in the Netherlands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Amsterdam Public Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, lklaufus@ggd.amsterdam.nl.
authors.forename: Leonie H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Klaufus
authors.forename: Thijs J L
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fassaert
authors.forename: Matty A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Wit
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult