Analyzing Global Dentist Distribution Using the Gini Coefficient

Abstract

Background: Each country’s health system is tasked with providing services to ensure the health of its population. Dental services are among these essential services. However, dental service utilization is unevenly distributed worldwide. This study’s findings will give health sector officials and policymakers valuable insights to enhance system performance.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study, conducted in 2021, aimed to determine the distribution of dentists worldwide. The analysis utilized the Pareto curve, the dentist-to-population ratio (DPR), the Gini Coefficient (GC), and the Lorenz curve. The goal was to identify the countries with the highest number of dentists.Results: There are over 2,500,000 dentists globally, averaging 3.6 dentists per 10,000 people. However, the ratios vary significantly, with about 6.8 per 10,000 in countries with very high Human Development Index (HDI) groups and 0.19 per 10,000 in low HDI groups. The data indicates that more than 80% of dentists work in countries with very high and high HDI.Conclusion: This study suggests that job concentration is higher in areas with superior welfare and facilities, and dentistry is no exception. Therefore, creating better welfare in more disadvantaged areas, implementing mandatory government plans, and strategic government planning can help mitigate distribution inequality.

Keywords

• dentists
• gini coefficient
• human development
• world countries
• healthcare disparities