Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The study seeks to assess South Africa's health care utilisation pattern in the post apartheid era.This is based on the equity driven policy objectives of the health care system that were meant to have impact on individuals' health care utilisation patterns.A framework of factors influencing health care utilisation is outlined to explain the determinants of health care utilisation.It gives some insights into the socio-economic and racial differences influencing the use and choice of health care in South Africa.It also attempts to investigate how these factors have changed and whether the pattern of health care utilisation among those with higher need has changed over time.Four household survey data sets were used to collect information about individuals who reported illness/injury within the recall period for the different household survey years.Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to generate a socio-economic status (SES) index, which was used to divide the population into quintiles.A multinomial regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of choice of health care, while a binary logit model was used to explain the factors influencing the use of health care.The results of the study showed that the African/Blacks are still the most underprivileged population group given their lower SES.The inequality in the distribution of wealth has also influenced use and choice of health care among individuals.The multinomial regression model showed that the influence of the explanatory variables on choice of health care was not consistent over the ten year period except for asset index (SES).Wealthier individuals are more likely to use private facility but less likely to use traditional/spiritual healer facility than the use of public facility over the ten year period.The 2006 results indicated that, males are more likely to use private facility but less likely to use traditional/spiritual healer facility than public facility compared to females.The White population are more likely to use private facility but less likely to use traditional/spiritual healer facility than public facility compared to African/Blacks.Those
Author: Oboirien Kafayat Olabimpe
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2757513052