A STUDY ON MORBIDITY PATTERN, HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION AND HEALTH EXPENDITURE IN A URBAN COMMUNITY OF KOLKATA

Abstract

Introduction: In a hugely populated country like India the ever-escalating expenditure on health both in terms of direct and indirect costs is the most common obstacle for poor people to obtain appropriate, affordable, adequate, and timely treatment.

Objective: To find out the morbidity pattern and health care utilization as well as health expenditure of the people in a selected urban community of Kolkata.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the award of Kolkata Municipal Corporation within the service area of Urban Health Centre, under AIIHPH, Kolkata. The sample size was determined to assume the prevalence of morbidity to be 50% with an allowable error of 10% and using the formula n= 4pq/l2. 100 households were chosen by simple random sampling with a total population of 455. House to house interview was conducted using a pre-designed, pre-tested schedule for a period of 2 months.

Result: The result showed that the majority of the people(59.2%) consulted private practitioners during their illness and health insurance coverage was poor(22.9%). Expenditure on health care service was significantly associated with per capita income, occupation, and health-seeking behavior. Conclusions: The present study indicates that there should be an improvement in government health care service as well as provisions for easy, low cost and flexible health insurance policy.