Study on edge villages based on cross-region healthcare-seeking behavior

This study addresses spatial disparities in rural healthcare by introducing the concept of edge village -communities where a misalignment between administrative boundaries and functional hospital service areas (HSAs) leads to prevalent cross-region healthcare-seeking. This concept, grounded in edge-effect theory, provides a novel perspective for analyzing healthcare resource mismatches.

Using Liannan Yao Autonomous County, Guangdong Province, as a case study, we employed complex network community detection to delineate HSAs and identify edge villages. An institution-behavior-space integrative framework was applied, combining literature analysis and field surveys to establish a multidimensional factor system. Key indicators were selected via Elastic Net regression, and their impact mechanisms were analyzed using mixed logit models.

Edge villages were systematically identified, revealing significant misalignment between actual healthcare service areas and administrative divisions. Key factors driving cross-region healthcare-seeking included service accessibility, resource quality, and patient mobility patterns. The proposed framework effectively interprets spatial disparities through the lens of edge villages.

The edge village concept offers a new micro-analytic unit and a transferable framework for understanding rural healthcare misallocation. It provides policymakers with an evidence-based tool to pinpoint underserved areas and formulate tailored governance strategies, thereby improving resource allocation fairness and efficiency and fostering inclusive regional development.