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Pediatric nephrology workforce in Latin America
1Servicio de Nefrología de Niños y Adolescentes, Hospital Español, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|January 5, 1999
Summary
Latin American pediatric nephrology workforce varies significantly by country. Higher child-to-nephrologist ratios correlate with lower GDP and higher infant mortality, indicating critical workforce needs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Public Health
- Health Workforce Research
Background:
- The pediatric nephrology workforce in Latin America faces significant challenges.
- Understanding the distribution and influencing factors of pediatric nephrologists is crucial for equitable healthcare access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the pediatric nephrology workforce distribution across 14 Latin American countries.
- To identify correlations between the pediatric nephrologist-to-child ratio and socioeconomic indicators.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted across 14 Latin American countries.
- Data on the number of children under 15 years per pediatric nephrologist were collected.
- Statistical analyses, including Spearman's rank correlation, were used to assess relationships with GDP per capita and infant mortality.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in the pediatric nephrologist-to-child ratio was observed, with Guatemala having the highest ratio (1,582.6 thousand children per nephrologist).
- An inverse correlation was found between children per pediatric nephrologist and national GDP per capita (r=-0.52, P<0.05).
- A strong positive correlation was found between children per pediatric nephrologist and infant mortality (r=0.82, P<0.005).
Conclusions:
- The pediatric nephrology workforce distribution is influenced by economic status, infant mortality, healthcare policies, market forces, and social regulations.
- There is an urgent need for a study to determine the optimal number of pediatric nephrologists for adequate care planning in Latin America.