A Dynamic Analysis of the Demand for Health Care in Post-Apartheid South Africa.

David Mhlanga

doi:10.3390/nursrep11020045

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the drivers of demand for healthcare in South Africa 26 years after democracy. The pattern healthcare demand by households in South Africa is that most households use public healthcare services particularly public clinics compared to private and traditional healthcare facilities. Using conditional probability models, the logit model to be more specific, the results revealed that households head who is unemployed, households who do not have a business, households who were not receiving pension money, had a greater probability of demand for public healthcare institutions. On the other hand, being male, being White, Indian and Coloured, being a property owner and being not a grant beneficiary, reduces the probability of demand for public healthcare facilities in South Africa. As a result, the study recommends more investment in public healthcare but more in public clinics in South Africa due to the high percentage of households using these services. Also, the government must consider investing more in the maintenance and improvement of the welfare of nurses in the country considering the huge role they play in the delivery of healthcare to the citizens.

Highlights

Introduction and BackgroundAs a nation becomes wealthy, households and individuals will start to take life more seriously which will lead them to demand more healthcare services
The results showed that sex of household head, the race of the household head, age of household head, property ownership, being a grant beneficiary, being a pension receiver, being an employee receiving salaries/wages, business ownership that is receiving income from the business were the significant factors influencing household to use public health facilities
The pattern of choice of healthcare by households in South Africa showed that most households prefer public healthcare centres like public clinics compared to other healthcare facilities

Summary

Introduction

As a nation becomes wealthy, households and individuals will start to take life more seriously which will lead them to demand more healthcare services. The major feature of demand for healthcare is the actual consumption of the products and services by an individual who is facing illness or injury [3]. The factors such as the level of income, the cost of care, education levels of the households, the societal norms, values, and traditions as well as the quality of the services provided influences consumption levels of these services and products [4]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion