Classifying OECD Countries According to Health Indicators Using Fuzzy Clustering Analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to classify OECD countries according to health indicators using fuzzy clustering analysis, to identify the cluster in which Turkey is in and the other countries located in the same cluster with Turkey and to determine whether Turkey shows similar characteristics with other countries located in the same cluster or not. In the study, 34 OECD member countries were discussed. With ten variables that directly and indirectly affect the health, c-means clustering analysis was performed. The NCSS 10 software package was used to analyze the data. In the analysis, it was determined that the most appropriate cluster number is five; three countries involved in the first cluster, nine countries involved in the second cluster, nine countries involved in the third cluster, six countries involved in the fourth cluster and seven countries involved in the fifth cluster. Turkey is located in the fourth cluster. Other countries in the same cluster along with Turkey are Estonia, Hungary, Mexico, Poland and Chile.