A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
Socioeconomic and regional aspects in the use of specialized psychiatric care-a Finnish nationwide follow-up study
Tekijät: Paananen R, Santalahti P, Merikukka M, Ramo A, Wahlbeck K, Gissler M
Kustantaja: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Julkaisuvuosi: 2013
Journal: European Journal of Public Health
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Lehden akronyymi: EUR J PUBLIC HEALTH
Numero sarjassa: 3
Vuosikerta: 23
Numero: 3
Aloitussivu: 372
Lopetussivu: 377
Sivujen määrä: 6
ISSN: 1101-1262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cks147
Tiivistelmä
Background: Mental health problems in childhood and adolescence are an important public health concern. The general aim of Finnish health policy is to offer equal services for all inhabitants according to need, irrespective of socio-economic background or place of residence. Here, we assess equity in access to psychiatric care in a long-term nationwide follow-up study from birth to early adulthood. Methods: All 60 069 children born in Finland in 1987 were followed up through health registers from 1987 to 2008. The cohort members' use of specialized psychiatric outpatient and inpatient care was assessed and linked to their socio-economic status and residential area. Results: Altogether, 14.4% of the cohort members had received specialized psychiatric care during the follow-up. Females used significantly more specialized psychiatric outpatient care than males. In addition, the use of specialized psychiatric care was more common among young people with a poor socio-economic background and those living in urban areas. Conclusions: A notable number of the young adults born in Finland in 1987 used specialized psychiatric care during their childhood and adolescence. Use was clearly defined by sex and residential area, as well as by parental socio-economic status and education. The data indicate that equity in access to mental health services should be highlighted in health policies, as contemporary outpatient mental health care has not been equally available for people living within and outside urban areas.
Background: Mental health problems in childhood and adolescence are an important public health concern. The general aim of Finnish health policy is to offer equal services for all inhabitants according to need, irrespective of socio-economic background or place of residence. Here, we assess equity in access to psychiatric care in a long-term nationwide follow-up study from birth to early adulthood. Methods: All 60 069 children born in Finland in 1987 were followed up through health registers from 1987 to 2008. The cohort members' use of specialized psychiatric outpatient and inpatient care was assessed and linked to their socio-economic status and residential area. Results: Altogether, 14.4% of the cohort members had received specialized psychiatric care during the follow-up. Females used significantly more specialized psychiatric outpatient care than males. In addition, the use of specialized psychiatric care was more common among young people with a poor socio-economic background and those living in urban areas. Conclusions: A notable number of the young adults born in Finland in 1987 used specialized psychiatric care during their childhood and adolescence. Use was clearly defined by sex and residential area, as well as by parental socio-economic status and education. The data indicate that equity in access to mental health services should be highlighted in health policies, as contemporary outpatient mental health care has not been equally available for people living within and outside urban areas.
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