Article PDF :

Veiw Full Text PDF

Article type :

Original Article

Author :

Laveena F Noronha, Priya T Nandimath, NSN Rao

Volume :

7

Issue :

4

Abstract :

Introduction: Health care utilization is the measure of the population’s use of the health care services. Health care utilization is used to assess how efficiently a health care system is providing healthcare services. Aim: With this context a study was carried out to evaluate health care utilization and health expenditure among people of Kumta taluk and to analyze health care utilization and health expenditure by household’s socio economic status, geographical location and other key variables. Materials and Methods: Multistage sampling was used to select 160 households. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview household heads. Findings: The study covered a population of 569 persons out of 160 households of Kumta taluk. Overall males fell sick more than females. Fever was highest (31.6%) reported sickness. 51.9% people utilized private facility due to good care provided and 39.5% used government facility as it is easy to access. The maximum expenditure on treatment of morbidities was Rs.16500 with the mean expenditure of Rs.1006.3. There was no association between age group, sex and type of health facility utilized. There was no difference in the type of health facility used by middle class and upper class. Data on hospitalization revealed that, majority of the people used private facility. The total minimum expenditure on hospitalization was Rs.4000 and maximum Rs.200000 with the mean expenditure of Rs.34900. Regarding immunization, 75% used PHC for immunization and 25% used private health facility. The maximum amount spent on immunization was Rs.3000 with the mean expenditure of Rs.333.33. Conclusion: Fever was highest reported sickness among all age groups irrespective of sex. Private facility was utilized by majority as the care was good and Government facility was used as it was easy to access Utilization of the health care facility showed no relationship with their age, sex, socio economic status. Majority preferred private facility for hospitalization.