AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF OUT-OF-POCKET HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE SIRAJGANJ DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH
The allocation of resources to health sector and its utilization bear great importance as health is treated as the root of all happiness of human life. The prime objective of this study was to examine the factors influencing the out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure of rural households in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. The research has used a set of cross-sectional data on the respective variables for the empirical analysis. For this purpose, the study applied a two-stage sampling technique consists of purposive and cluster random sampling for the selection of 400 households from four upazilas of the district. Finally, the data has been collected from the sample households with the help a structured questionnaire composed of both open and closed-ended questions by using face to face interview method. The study has employed a double log regression model to assess the effects of various specified determinants on the per head out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure of households. The results of the study showed that the per head out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure is positively related with the ratio of family members aged below 5 years, ratio of family members aged above 50 years, household income per head, wealth per head, education level of the household head, quality of private hospital in the territory, household size and ratio of chronically ill family members. In contrast, ratio of family members aged 5- below 50 years, ratio of male family members, ratio of single family members, quality of government hospital, consumption expenditure per head and time distance to the nearest healthcare center have negative relationship with per head out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure. Since the study found that the availability of better-quality government hospital in a locality reduces the per capita out-of-pocket health expenditure, it is suggested to establish new government hospitals and raise the capacity of the existing ones may make healthcare services more accessible to the poor people.
Healthcare Expenditure, Regression, Healthcare Market, Information Asymmetry.