Financial Burden and Health-seeking Behaviors Related to Chronic Diseases Under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR: a Cross-sectional Study
Abstract Background: Financial protection is a key dimension of universal health coverage. In 2016, Lao PDR implemented the National Health Insurance system covering the entire population of certain provinces. This cross-sectional study investigated households’ health-seeking behavior and their financial burden with chronic patients, post coverage. Method: The study was conducted in Bolikhamxay province from January 15 to February 13, 2019. In total, 487 households, selected via stratified random sampling, were surveyed, and questionnaire-based interviews conducted. Health care service utilization and financial burden were examined.Results: Totally, 370 households had at least one member with some type of self-reported health problem within the last 3 months prior to the interview, while 170 had at least one member with a chronic condition. More than 75% of the households accessed a health facility when a member experienced health problems. We observed that the prevalence of catastrophic health expenditure (health expenditure/income between 20% and 40%) was 25.1% (threshold of 20%) and 16.2% (threshold of 40%). Through logistic regression, we found that the major factors determining financial catastrophes owing to health problems were household members with chronic illness, hospitalization, household poverty status, family size (both 20% and 40% thresholds), visiting a private facility (20% threshold), and distance from provincial top referral hospital (40% threshold).Conclusions: The National Health Insurance system has positively impacted households’ access to health facilities. However, catastrophic health expenditure remains high, especially among chronic patients. Facilities under National Health Insurance should be strengthened to provide more services, including care for chronic conditions.