Healthcare utilization and out of pocket expenditure of urban slum population in Sonipat District of Haryana; A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Nearly one-third (31%) of the Indian population live in urban areas. It is estimated that about 40% of the total Indian population will be urbanized by 2030. Urban population and the urban poor are far from being homogenous and comprise of several sub-groups that differ socially, economically, and geographically. NHM seeks to improve the health status of the urban population particularly slum dwellers and other vulnerable sections by facilitating their access to quality health care. The health care utilization and health care spending among urban poor is drastically different from other section and needs to be addressed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in health camps from April to August 2015. Exit interview of patients attending all Health Camps under Urban Health Mission was conducted during this period. Results: Majority of the patients (55.8%) attending the health camp reported that they go to public health facilities for their routine illness followed by private health facilities (27.6%) or both 8.3%. Few patients reported going to others (unqualified practitioners, drug stores) for their routine illness. Among patients (73%) who reported any illness in the past 3 months, 64.1% had utilized public health facilities for seeking health care, 25.6% reported private and 10.2% reported seeking health care from unqualified practitioners/ drug stores. Conclusion: This study highlights that health camps are usually attended by people belonging to low- income or lower middle-income groups and most of them prefer to use public health care facilities for their routine health care issues.