ANALYSIS WITH NESTED MULTINOMIAL LOGIT MODEL OF DEMAND FOR HEALTHCARE: AN APPLICATION IN KAYSERI PROVINCE

Determining the factors affecting the demand for healthcare services are important in terms of providing health services more effectively and a more efficient health system. In addition, effective provision of healthcare services is an important element in terms of basic socio-economic development of countries. The primary aim of this study is to determine the factors which affect the demand for healthcare services. In that framework, factors related to household's choice of applying to a healthcare facility because of a health problem and the factors related to household's healthcare facility choice are investigated using the data collected in Kayseri province with survey method. Within the scope of the study, Nested Logit Model was implemented to the data set using Full Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) technique which estimates both decision levels simultaneously. According to the results obtained, the factors which affect the choice of applying to the healthcare facility were found as the educational level of the household head, severity of the disease and some health problem complaints. Among the factors which affect healthcare facility choice, educational level of the patient reduces the likelihood of applying to both public and private healthcare facilities. Furthermore, likelihood of applying to public healthcare facilities reduces with the age of the patient.