Vietnamese
EnglishInequalities in Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Impoverishment Associated With Non-communicable Diseases in Chi Linh, Hai Duong, Vietnam
Kien V.D., Minh H.V., Ngoc N.B., et al. (2017). Inequalities in Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Impoverishment Associated With Non-communicable Diseases in Chi Linh, Hai Duong, Vietnam. Asia Pac J Public Health, 29(5_suppl), 35S–44S
Kien VD1, Minh HV1, Ngoc NB1, Phuong TB1, Ngan TT1, Quam MB2.
Author information
1 Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.
2 Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Abstract
A costly modern-day double burden, the expenses of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a devastating epidemic. The World Health Organization estimates $7 trillion in economic losses from NCDs in 2011-2025. Although regarded as affluent diseases, the burden of NCDs is shifting into poorer groups. In this study, we assessed the socio-economic inequalities in catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment associated with NCDs in Northern Vietnam. We also identified associated factors for catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment. Households self-reporting NCD diagnoses had the highest association with both catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment, followed by those in urban areas. Such households were likely poorer according to our calculations estimating socio-economic inequalities. Households with at least 1 member older than 60 years were also more likely to suffer catastrophic health expenditures. These findings suggest that targeted policy to prevent or subsidize care for NCDs could prevent catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment among those already most disadvantaged.
Keywords: Vietnam; catastrophic health expenditure; impoverishment; inequality; non-communicable diseases