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Inequality in healthcare utilization by need and non-need factors associated with chronic NCDs among older adults in India: Evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study India

Umakanta Sahoo, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Sanjay K Mohanty, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

People with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are more vulnerable to socioeconomic inequality over access to health services and health outcome. Using the first ever micro level data with a total of 70,663 individuals from Longitudinal Ageing Study India (LASI, 2017-18), this paper aims to understand the inequity in healthcare utilization by need and non-need factors associated with chronic NCDs among older adults in India. Bivariate analysis, Probit regression model and concentration index were used in the analysis. In India, due to chronic NCDs about 28% using inpatient care, 45.5% using outpatient care, 38.8% using both inpatient and outpatient care and 47.9% using either inpatient and outpatient care. the higher probability of using inpatient care due to chronic NCDs was found among older adults with aged 75 and above, male, having difficulty in daily living activities, reside in urban area, belong to richest MPCE quintile, widowed and not covered with health insurance. Further, there was a pro-rich inequality observed for utilization of actual use, need-predicted use and need-standardised use of either inpatient o outpatient care due to chronic NCDs. Inequality in health services due to chronic NCDs remains largely by the richest quintile and it indicates a need of pro-poor welfare.

Keywords: Inequality, Health and morbidity, Older adults, Longitudinal studies

See paper.

  Presented in Session P18.