Abstract
Objectives
In spite of efforts made by the Government of India through different programs and initiatives, the use of maternal healthcare is inadequate in India. India’s eight states are considered to be relatively socioeconomically backward and are referred to as the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states. This paper examines the variation in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) in the utilization of maternal health services including antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and post-natal care (PNC) and quantifies the extent of catastrophic health spending (CHS) incurred and identify the factors influencing it in the EAG states of India.
Methods
Data from the National Sample Survey 71st Round was used for analysis. Catastrophic health spending (CHS) was measured as a share of household consumption expenditure on different cut-offs. Log-linear and logistic regressions were performed to examine the factors associated with maternity cost and CHS.
Results
The average spending on maternal cost was US$ 154 (ANC = US$ 35, delivery = US$ 82.5, and PNC=US$ 34). Forty-one percent of the households incurred catastrophic spending at the threshold level of 10%. Place of delivery, education, caste/tribe, and economic quintile emerged as significant factors in explaining out-of-pocket expenditure on maternity care. Place of delivery and education are significant influences on CHS at a 10% cut-off.
Conclusion
Findings from this study assume importance in the context of reducing OPPE on maternity cost; the government needs to improve the financial cover for all types of cost incurred during the prenatal, delivery, and post-natal period under maternal health financing program and policies.
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The authors are thankful to the National Sample Survey Organization and Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Government of India, for providing the data set for the research.
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Kumar, S., Anil Kumar, K. Out-of-Pocket Expenditure and Catastrophic Health Spending on Maternity Care for Hospital Based Delivery Care in Empowered Action Group (EAG) States of India. Glob Soc Welf 8, 231–241 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-020-00192-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-020-00192-2