Geographic distribution of ophthalmologist in East Java 2023

Abstract

Background: Based on the results of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness conducted across 15 provinces in Indonesia, East Java has the greatest prevalence rate of blindness in Indonesia with 4.4% of the population affected and 81.1% of cases attributed to cataracts. Enhancing the human resource capacity is essential for managing visual impairment. It is necessary to ensure the strategic distribution of ophthalmologists in accordance with the needs and healthcare accessibility of the population. Objectives: This study aims to determine the geographic distribution of ophthalmologists in East Java and to investigate the correlation between the geographic distribution and various socio-economic indicators. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024. The researchers used hospital websites and social media platforms to collect data on ophthalmologists at each hospital in East Java, with a ratio of one ophthalmologist per 20,000 population. The Pearson correlation test in SPSS version 27 was used to analyze the correlation between the ratio of ophthalmologists per 20,000 population and the human development index, health index, purchase power index, and education index of each region. Results: In this study, the estimated number of ophthalmologists in East Java in 2023 was 505, which ranged from one in Sampang Regency to 142 in Surabaya City. The regions with the highest ratio of ophthalmologists were Mojokerto, Surabaya, and Malang Cities. The ophthalmologists were concentrated in major urban centers, with a notable absence in rural areas. A significant correlation was identified between the ratio of ophthalmologists and the human development index, education index, purchase power index, health index, and regional minimum wage. Conclusion: The distribution of ophthalmologists in East Java remains imbalanced, with a concentration in major urban centers and a scarcity in rural areas. The ratio of ophthalmologists showed a significant correlation with socio-economic factors, including the human development index, education index, health index, purchase power index, and regional minimum wage.