Accessibility and utilization of healthcare services among diabetic patients: Is diabetes a poor man's ailment?

Abstract

Diabetes is a non-communicable ailment that has adverse effects on the individual's overall well-being and productivity in society. The main objective of this study was to examine the empirical literature concerning the association between diabetes and poverty and the accessibility and utilization of medical care services among diabetic patients. The diabetes literature was explored using a literature review approach. This review revealed that diabetes is an ailment that affects all individuals irrespective of socioeconomic status; however, its pre-valence is high in low-income countries. Hence, despite the higher prevalence of diabetes in developing countries compared with developed countries, diabetes is not a poor man's ailment because it affects individuals of all incomes. While the number of diabetic patients that access and utilize diabetes medical care services has increased over the years, some personal and institutional factors still limit patients' access to the use of diabetes care. Also, there is a lacuna in the diabetes literature concerning the extent of utilization of available healthcare services by diabetic patients.