Household health expenditure and health outcomes in Kenya
Loading...
Date
2013-10-15
Authors
Kimalu, Paul Kieti
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study's aim was to examine household health expenditure, health
financing inequities and health outcomes in Kenya. To analyze the
determinants of household health expenditure in Kenya, the study used a twopart
model. To analyze the determinants of catastrophic health expenditure, this
study used bivariate probit with sample selection. The extent of household
financing inequities was analyzed using Kakwani and concentration indices. To
analyze the determinants of health outcomes in Kenya, the study constructed a
pseudo-panel data model, which was estimated using Generalized Methods of
. Moments. This study used household data from Welfare Monitoring Surveys
(WMS) and the Kenya Integrated Household Budgetary Survey data sets. The
Welfare Monitoring Surveys were conducted in 1992, 1994 and in 1997. The
Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey was carried out in 200512006.
Data on county population, number of health facilities, literacy rates and public
health budget allocation were obtained from various Government sources. The
findings on the determinants of household health expenditure established that
higher household income was associated with higher household health
expenditure, while higher public health budget allocation to the counties was
associated with lower household health expenditure. Visiting public health
providers was associated "Yith lower household health expenditure compared to
private and mission health. providers. On the determinants of catastrophic
health expenditure, the study findings indicated that household members
. visiting private and mission health providers were more likely to incur
catastrophic health expenditure compared to those visiting public health
providers. Households with lower probability of incurring catastrophic health
expenditure were those in rich income quintiles, in urban areas, and with
household heads having at least primary education. The study findings show
evidence of inequities in health financing. The study findings show household
health expenditure concentration index of 0.45,0.53 and 0.75 in 1992, 1994
and 1997, respectively, indicating that the rich households were contributing
more than the poor households in financing health care. With regard to key
determinants of household health outcomes, the study found that higher
household income, larger proportion of households with safe water source,
literacy rate and progressivity in household health care financing measured
through Kakwani indices were associated with improved health outcomes.
However, larger household size worsened health outcomes. The study
recommends that the Government considers increasing health budget
allocation. The study also recommends that the Government considers
strengthening and enforcing her policy of provision, accessibility and
affordability of health care services by further investing in public health
facilities and improving their distribution. Finally, the Government could
consider designing and developing health financing mechanisms to protect the
poor and the vulnerable from catastrophic health expenditure
Description
Department of Economic Theory 234p. 2013, RA 410.55 .K4K5