The impact of internal migration on health care utilization and health status in Turkey

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of internal migration on health care utilization and health status in Turkey. The determination of the effect of socio-demographic and socio-economic factors on health care utilization and health status and the examination of the change in health care utilization and health status are among the purposes of this research. The data of Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS 1993-1998-2003-2008-2013), conducted by Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies for a five-year, were used in the study. The study included the period of 1993-2013. In the study, receiving antenatal care, giving birth in health facility, receiving postnatal care, modern contraceptive use and cesarean delivery were selected as health care utilization indicators; under-five mortality, the prevalence of diarrhea in children under five years of age, birth weight of children, stunts in children under five years of age, overweight / obesity in children under five years of age, and obesity among women were selected as health status indicators. While assessing the distribution of health status and health care utilization by migration status, socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics, it was used cross tables. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of migration status, socio-demographic and socio-economic factors on health care utilization and health status. The results of the analysis show that internal migration affected health care utilization and health status. The best conditions for health care utilization and health status variables are those who live in the city, then respectively those who are rural to urban migrants, urban to rural migrants, and rural people. It has been determined that rural people constituted the most disadvantaged group in terms of health status and health care utilization. It has been revealed that health care utilization variables, except cesarean delivery, and health status indicators, except obesity among women, improved between 1993 and 2013. It was found that socio-demographic (age, gender, education, number of children) and socio-economic factors (working status, health insurance, residential area, childhood residential area) affected health care utilization and health status. It is suggested that measures should be taken to eliminate inequalities in terms of health care utilization and health status as a result of the study. It can be argued that it is necessary to actually take out the entire population within the scope of the universal health insurance. Also, it can be suggested that the implications for increasing the education level of women can be suggested. Key Words Internal Migration, Health Care Utilization, Health Status, Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, Health Policy, Logistics Regression