%0 Journal Article
%T Unmet healthcare needs and the local extinction index: an analysis of regional disparities impacting South Korea's older adults.
%A Kwon Y
%A Sohn M
%A Choi M
%J Front Public Health
%V 12
%N 0
%D 2024
%M 39148647
%F 6.461
%R 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1423108
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This study examines the factors affecting unmet healthcare experiences by integrating individual-and community-level extinction indices.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Using spatial autocorrelation and multilevel modeling, the study utilizes data from the Community Health Survey and Statistics Korea for 218 local government regions from 2018 to 2019.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The analysis identifies significant clustering, particularly in non-metropolitan regions with a higher local extinction index. At the individual level, some factors affect unmet medical needs, and unmet healthcare needs increase as the local extinction index at the community level increases.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The findings underscore the need for strategic efforts to enhance regional healthcare accessibility, particularly for vulnerable populations and local infrastructure development.