Household Health Care Costs in Vietnam
Author Information
Author(s): Thuan Nguyen Thi Bich, Lofgren Curt, Chuc Nguyen Thi Kim, Janlert Urban, Lindholm Lars
Primary Institution: Hanoi Medical University
Hypothesis
What is the household out-of-pocket health care expenditure associated with different types of illnesses?
Conclusion
Catastrophic health care spending for a household is often due to a series of everyday illnesses rather than a single disastrous event.
Supporting Evidence
- Communicable illnesses account for the majority of health care expenditures in the Bavi district.
- Poor households experience a higher burden from communicable illnesses compared to wealthier households.
- The study found that 90% of individuals suffered from at least one episode of illness during the year.
Takeaway
In Vietnam, families often spend a lot of money on health care because of common illnesses, which can lead to financial trouble over time.
Methodology
The study involved monthly interviews with 621 randomly selected households over a year to assess health expenditures related to illnesses.
Potential Biases
There may be biases in classifying households as rich or poor based on expenditure quintiles versus local leaders' classifications.
Limitations
The study likely underestimates the burden of illness as it only measures out-of-pocket expenditures and does not account for income losses or time costs due to illness.
Participant Demographics
The study included households from the Bavi district in Vietnam, with a population of 235,000, primarily Kinh ethnic group.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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