Household Health Care Facility Utilization in the Philippines

Abstract

This paper presents probit estimates of household utilization of health care facilities in the Philippines. Using household data from the 1987 National Health Survey and supply data from the Department of Health, separate probit equations are estimated for each of the four major types of facilities in the Philippines: Public hospitals, private hospitals, major rural health units and barangay (village) health stations. The probability that a household will utilize services from these facilities is estimated as a function of socioeconomic, demographic and supply variables. The results indicate substantial differences in utilization patterns by income class. Households in the highest income quartile are approximately twice as likely (0.451 versus 0.236) to utilize private hospital services vis-à-vis households in the lowest income quartile, ceteris paribus. The results also indicate substantial substitution between public and private. services. An increase in the availability of private hospital beds significantly reduces the probability that a household will utilize government facilities.

Effect of Perception and Free Maternal Health Services on Antenatal Care Facilities Utilization in Selected Rural and Semi-Urban Communities of Ondo State, Nigeria

“…Among reasons chosen by the respondents, free health services was the most stated reason for utilizing public health facilities, followed distantly by satisfactory treatment of illnesses during pregnancy. This could be due to the lessening of economic burden by the free health services programme in Ondo state as reported by earlier researcher which showed that economic factors are proportionally associated with ANC utilization [26]. However, economic reason was not found to be directly associated with the utilization of public health facilities in this study.…”

“…Utilization of health facilities are determined by many factors. Maternal age, parity, income, standard of living of households, ANC users fees and travel distance to ante natal care provider are the common economic factors that have been cited by previous researchers [13][14][15]. Previous studies showed that the likelihood that a household will utilize health facilities is a function of its socioeconomic, demographic and supply variables and that substantial difference exist in utilization pattern by income class.…”

“…Previous studies showed that the likelihood that a household will utilize health facilities is a function of its socioeconomic, demographic and supply variables and that substantial difference exist in utilization pattern by income class. In addition, these studies showed that "Households in the highest income quintile are approximately twice more likely to utilize private hospital services than those in the lowest, ceteris paribus [13][14][15].…”

Are the timings and risk factors changing? Survival analysis of timing of first antenatal care visit among pregnant women in Nigeria (2003–2013)

“…Literature has unanimously identified maternal age, education, parity, income, standard of living of households, cultural barriers, and distance to ANC provider as some of the factors affecting ANC utilization. 14 , 18 – 21 Several states in Nigeria have begun to offer free maternal health services in response to poor maternal health care. 21 In 2007, the Northern Governors’ Forum Summit pledged to end preventable maternal deaths, most notably in Northern Nigeria.…”