Abstract
BackgroundThere are limited data on healthcare spending by households containing a person with severe mental disorder (SMD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aimed to estimate the incidence and intensity of catastrophic out-of-pocket (OOP) payments and coping strategies implemented by households with and without a person with SMD in a rural district of Ethiopia.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional community household survey was carried out from January to November 2015 as part of the Emerald programme (emerging mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries). A sample of 290 households including a person with SMD and 289 comparison households without a person with SMD participated in the study. An adapted and abbreviated version of the World Health Organization SAGE (Study on global Ageing and adult health) survey instrument was used. Households were considered to have incurred catastrophic health expenditure if their annual OOP health expenditures exceeded 40% of their annual non-food expenditure. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with catastrophic expenditure and types of coping strategies employed.ResultsThe incidence of catastrophic OOP payments in the preceding 12 months was 32.2% for households of a person with SMD and 18.2% for comparison households (p = 0.006). In households containing a person with SMD, there was a significant increase in the odds of hardship financial coping strategies (p < 0.001): reducing medical visits, cutting down food consumption, and withdrawing children from school. Households of a person with SMD were also less satisfied with their financial status and perceived their household income to be insufficient to meet their livelihood needs (p < 0.001).ConclusionsCatastrophic OOP health expenditures in households of a person with SMD are high and associated with hardship financial coping strategies which may lead to poorer health outcomes, entrenchment of poverty and intergenerational disadvantage. Policy interventions aimed at financial risk pooling mechanisms are crucial to reduce the intensity and impact of OOP payments among vulnerable households living with SMD and support the goal of universal health coverage.
Highlights
In a recent global monitoring report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure was shown to have increased globally [1]
A fee waiver program was introduced as a measure to protect the poor from the negative effects of out-of-pocket payments in Ethiopia, the coverage remains low in many regions [5]
The proportion of households covered by health insurance was lower for households having a member with severe mental disorder (SMD) compared to households without a person with SMD (1.0% vs. 2.7%; p = 0.262)
Summary
In a recent global monitoring report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure was shown to have increased globally [1]. Out-of-pocket payments make up a significant proportion of the total expenditure on mental health care in most low-income countries [2]. In 43% of countries in the African region, OOP spending is the main source of financing for mental health services [3]. Household out-of-pocket expenditure represents the largest financing source for health care, accounting for about 33% of total health expenditure [4]. There are limited data on healthcare spending by households containing a person with severe mental disorder (SMD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aimed to estimate the incidence and intensity of catastrophic out-of-pocket (OOP) payments and coping strategies implemented by households with and without a person with SMD in a rural district of Ethiopia
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