Sabnam Acharya|Saruna Ghimire|Eva M Jeffers|Ninadini Shrestha
Health Care Utilization and Health Care Expenditure of Nepali Older Adults
Pokhara University|University of Northern Colorado|Colorado School of Public Health|Pokhara University
aging associated multiple chronic conditions older age health needs demand health services utilization increase limited data nepal health care utilization well health care costs among elderly population therefore imperative explore factors hindering access health care among nepalese older adults study aims explore health care utilization expenditure among nepali older adults method communitybased crosssectional survey conducted among 401 older adults residing pokhara lekhnath metropolitan nepal survey tool adapted study global ageing adult health sages questions health care utilization predictors health care utilization assessed binary logistic regression models results study participants mean sd age 702 80 years various preexisting conditions hypertension 377 gastritis 284 asthma 254 arthritis 234 reported past 12 months 70 visited health facility notable proportion 30 participants didnt utilize health services despite health problem utilization outpatient inpatient health services 875 146 respectively use private health facilities 564 high compared use government health facilities 357 privileged ethnicity living partner higher annual income knowledge social insurance multimorbidity associated higher odds utilizing health services participants privileged ethnicity higher household income attending private health facility multimorbidities significantly higher pocket health expenditures conclusions notable proportion elderly participants utilize health services despite health problem public health system must develop effective strategies attract segment society high dependency private health facilities noted study lead towards higher pocket health expenditures health benefits regular health screenings must disseminated among elderly population developing quality affordable health care services older adults ensure equity accessibility major task public health system nepal