ArticlePloS one2021
The geographical maldistribution of obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Spatial heterogeneity of health care resources: a study of the socioeconomic, demographic, and natural geographic conditions of ethnic minority regions in Southwestern China.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Regional correlation study of obstetrician maldistribution and its impact on pregnancy loss outcomes in Japan amid declining fertility.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Communication features of ChatGPT responses and care-seeking intention for syphilis in Japan: a controlled dialogue experiment.Journal of rural medicine : JRM · 2026Article
- Article
- The Short-Term Impacts of Japan's 2024 Physician Working-Hour Limits on Labor Conditions, Self-Directed Professional Development, and Happiness Among Obstetrician-Gynecologists.The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research · 2025Article
- Supply-Side Impact of Supporting Obstetrically Underserved Areas: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of Korean medical science · 2025Article
- A study on equity in the allocation of health human resources in maternal and child health institutions in China (2002-2021) and forecasting the five-year future trends (2022-2026).BMC public health · 2025Article
- Spatial distribution patterns of human resources allocation in maternal and child healthcare institutions in China from 2016 to 2021.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Geographical Disparities in the Distribution of Community Pharmacies Providing Aseptic Preparation Services in Japan.Integrated pharmacy research & practice · 2024Article
- Article
- The allocation and fairness of health human resources in Chinese maternal and child health care institutions: a nationwide longitudinal study.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Incorporating Medical Supply and Demand into the Index of Physician Maldistribution Improves the Sensitivity to Healthcare Outcomes.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- A self-care smartphone application for midlife women with menopausal symptoms: A proof-of-concept study.Digital healthArticle
- Diagnostic accuracy of pelvic imaging for acute pelvic inflammatory disease in an emergency care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Acute medicine & surgeryReview
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Japan, there is a large geographical maldistribution of obstetricians/gynecologists, with a high proportion of females. This study seeks to clarify how the increase in the proportion of female physicians affects the geographical maldistribution of obstetrics/gynecologists.
methodsGovernmental data of the Survey of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists between 1996 and 2016 were used. The Gini coefficient was used to measure the geographical maldistribution. We divided obstetricians/gynecologists into four groups based on age and gender: males under 40 years, females under 40 years, males aged 40 years and above, and females aged 40 years and above, and the time trend of the maldistribution and contribution of each group was evaluated.
resultsThe maldistribution of obstetricians/gynecologists was found to be worse during the study period, with the Gini coefficient exceeding 0.400 in 2016. The contribution ratios of female physicians to the deterioration of geographical maldistribution have been increasing for those under 40 years and those aged 40 years and above. However, there was a continuous decrease in the Gini coefficient of the two groups.
conclusionsThe increase in the contribution ratio of the female physician groups to the Gini coefficient in obstetrics/gynecology may be due to the increased weight of these groups. The Gini coefficients of the female groups were also found to be on a decline. Although this may be because the working environment for female physicians improved or more female physicians established their practice in previously underserved areas, such a notion needs to be investigated in a follow-up study.
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