The impact of primary care physician density on perinatal health: Evidence from a natural experiment. (8th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kinge, Jonas Minet; Grytten, Jostein
• Is Part Of: Health economics. Volume 30:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2974
• Page End: 2994
• Publication Date: 2021-09-08
• Subjects: natural experiment -- perinatal health -- primary care physicians; Medical economics -- Periodicals; Economics, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Care Costs -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- economics -- Periodicals; Health Services -- economics -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1002/hec.4426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9230

Abstract

Abstract: We examined the impact of primary care physician density on perinatal health outcomes in Norway. From 1992 and onwards, primary care physicians who chose to work in selected remote municipalities were given an annual reduction in their student loan. This reduction, combined with increased supply of physicians, led to an increase in the density of primary care physicians in these selected municipalities. Our register‐based population study showed that this increase in physician density significantly improved perinatal health in terms of fewer fetal deaths and increased birth weight. The richness of the data allowed us to perform several robustness tests.