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Effect of Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure on the Welfare of Rural Households in Kwara State, Nigeria
Oyedeji Oluwafemi Amos,
Ukemenam Miriam Nwakuso,
Mohammed Abdullahi Baba,
Ojediran Ezekiel Olamide
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
1-5
Received:
8 October 2016
Accepted:
21 October 2016
Published:
19 November 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.11
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Abstract: Serious illness can induce utilization of health services which can impose high costs on households at a time when household ability to earn income is hampered due to inability to work of the ill individual and caregivers and as such affecting the welfare of the household as a whole. This study was carried out to examine the effect of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOP) on welfare of rural households in Kwara State Nigeria. Using a Two-stage sampling technique, 180 rural households were sampled out of which 175 households were used for the analysis of the study. The study employed descriptive statistics and Ordinary least square (OLS) regression in analysing the data collected for the study. The result of the descriptive statistics shows that on the average, household head in the study area was 42years of age with 7years of schooling, 22years of farming experience, about household size of 5 in adult male equivalent, a per capita income of N4,960, calorie consumption of 3151.46kcal/AE/day and monthly health expense of N676. The result of the analysis carried out to examine the effect of health expenditure on per capita calorie intake and income of households, shows that out-of-pocket health expense has a positive significant effect on both per capita calorie intake and income at 10% statistical level. The results of the study have shown the adverse effect of OOP on welfare of households in the study area and as such add to existing literatures on the welfare effect of health expenditure in developing countries. The study therefore recommends that the government should promote and sustain alternative health care financing mechanism like insurance schemes to assist poor households in benefiting from health services to reduce their OOP. Also, government should encourage the establishment of private health insurance schemes by creating enabling environment for them to thrive.
Abstract: Serious illness can induce utilization of health services which can impose high costs on households at a time when household ability to earn income is hampered due to inability to work of the ill individual and caregivers and as such affecting the welfare of the household as a whole. This study was carried out to examine the effect of out-of-pocket...
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Relationship Between Street-Begging and Poverty in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
6-11
Received:
22 September 2016
Accepted:
8 October 2016
Published:
27 December 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.12
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Abstract: There are diverse economic groups in any given society or country. Some of these groups are either privileged or less privileged with different traits in the economy of a society or country. This paper intends to examine the relationship that exists between the street-begging and poverty in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) respondents were selected using Simple-Random Sampling Technique among the beggars. Questionnaire, interview and observations were used to collect data while the latter was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings show medium, positive and significant correlation between street-begging and poverty scale (rho =.31, n = 112, p <.005). More so, full-time beggars are poorer than part-time beggars as there was significant difference in the poverty levels for the two and there was no significant difference in poverty scores for male and female beggars. Most of these beggars are poor, needy and equally illiterate without significant helping hands to care for their daily necessities of basic needs. They only access to relatively meagre amount of money through street-begging activities to keep themselves and their family members survive. It is recommended to the government to incorporate this socio-economically less privileged group in the Nigerian anti-poverty programme and public to desist from encouraging this group from engaging in begging activity by extending more their helping hands to the poor or destitute before turning to any form of beggars in the society.
Abstract: There are diverse economic groups in any given society or country. Some of these groups are either privileged or less privileged with different traits in the economy of a society or country. This paper intends to examine the relationship that exists between the street-begging and poverty in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and fift...
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Analysis of Factors Accountable for Low Patronage of Maternal Health Care and Skilled Supervised Delivery in the Adaklu District, Ghana
Etornam Kwame Kunu,
Michael Dovlo,
Emmanuel Klu,
Abigail Owusu
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
12-19
Received:
17 November 2016
Accepted:
17 December 2016
Published:
12 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.13
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Abstract: The study focused on examining the awareness level of pregnant women about the free maternal and child health care services, evaluate the effectiveness of the free maternal and child health care policy and to identify factors accountable for low patronage in accessing maternal and child health care services in the Adaklu District, Ghana. A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among 300 purposively selected maternal mothers. Both descriptive and exploratory factor analyses were the main analytical tools. Results show that majority respondents were aware of the free maternal and child health care policy. Concerning the effectiveness of the free maternal and child health care policy, 95 out of the 244 respondents who are aware of the exemption policy indicated they policy is highly effective; 107 of them which represent 43.9% said it is effective and finally, 42 of them which represent 17.2% indicated that the policy is not effective. Finally, six salient factors account for the factors accountable for the low patronage of maternal and child health care in the Adaklu District. The first factor is awareness factor, the second is perception factor, the third is access factor, the fourth is restriction factor, and the fifth is attitudinal factor and lastly success factor. The study emphasizes the need to intensify greater awareness on the effects of delivering at home and also government should endeavor to establish more health centres in every community thus making accessibility of maternal and child health care to maternal mothers in remote areas in the country.
Abstract: The study focused on examining the awareness level of pregnant women about the free maternal and child health care services, evaluate the effectiveness of the free maternal and child health care policy and to identify factors accountable for low patronage in accessing maternal and child health care services in the Adaklu District, Ghana. A descript...
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Cost Effectiveness of Predicting Severity in Leptospirosis
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
20-25
Received:
31 October 2016
Accepted:
21 November 2016
Published:
13 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.14
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Abstract: The prognosis of leptospirosis depends of severity, early diagnosis and prompt intensive treatment. Only few studies estimate the costs in outbreak of leptospirosis. We aimed to assess the cost effectiveness of predicting severity in leptospirosis by retrospective cohort study of 100 consecutive hospitalized patients with leptospirosis (1976-2015). The prices of service, investigations, drugs and no-medical costs were obtained from valid prices-table of the hospital. Total hospital costs per capita for mild, moderate and severe case were 1184 BGL (Bulgarian Lev=0.5 €), 2111 BGL and 8044 BGL, respectively (ratio 1 to 1.78 to 6.79). The costs for dialysis of severe cases were equal to the costs for drugs and blood products. We concluded that the predicting of severity could be facilitating the decision for prompt treatment including dialysis, decreases the risk for unfavorable outcome and could be decreasing the hospital costs.
Abstract: The prognosis of leptospirosis depends of severity, early diagnosis and prompt intensive treatment. Only few studies estimate the costs in outbreak of leptospirosis. We aimed to assess the cost effectiveness of predicting severity in leptospirosis by retrospective cohort study of 100 consecutive hospitalized patients with leptospirosis (1976-2015)....
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Assessment of Sexual Behavior and Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS Among High School Adolescents in Jardega Jarte Woreda, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2014
Kumera Bekele Negera,
Yohannes Ayalew Bekele,
Gebre Gelana Gudisa
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
26-36
Received:
8 November 2016
Accepted:
9 December 2016
Published:
16 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.15
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Abstract: Background: Many people have sexual intercourse for the first time in their teen age. Lack of information and knowledge encourage sexual risk behavior such as unprotected sex, early marriage, early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Objective:To assess the sexual behavior and the knowledge of STI and HIV/AIDS among high school adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 562 adolescents from March to April 2014, among two high schools, in JardegaJarteworeda, HoroGuduruWollega zone, westOromia regional state. The data was entered into EPI-info 3.5.3 and transported to SPSS 21 version for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to check the association between independent and outcome variables. Result: From the total respondents, 38.6% of adolescents had experienced sexual activity. Among those, only 46.6% of them had used condom the first time they had sexual intercourse. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 16.24 (16.24 ± 0.682) for male and 15.40 (15.40±0.796) for females. From all sexually active adolescents, 92.2% (97.2% of boys and 86.7% of the girls) had their first sexual intercourse between the ages of 15 and17 years. Conclusions and recommendations: from this study, substantial proportion of the adolescents ever had sexual intercourse. Moreover adolescents are practicing risky sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and sex at early age. Therefore, an integrated effort needs to be initiated to address such adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health problems through establishing and strengthening school anti AIDS clubs, providing in service training for teachers on adolescent reproductive health and establishing youth centers.
Abstract: Background: Many people have sexual intercourse for the first time in their teen age. Lack of information and knowledge encourage sexual risk behavior such as unprotected sex, early marriage, early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Objective:To assess the sexual behavior and the knowledge of STI and HIV/AIDS among hig...
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Prevalence and Pattern of Alcohol Use among Government Officers in Urban Sri Lanka
Prabhath Pallewaththa,
Geethani Niwarthana,
Prakash Thambiliyagodage,
Turlin Abenayaka,
Palitha Abeykoon
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2016
Pages:
37-40
Received:
2 December 2016
Accepted:
21 December 2016
Published:
16 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.hep.20160101.16
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Abstract: Non Communicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of death globally, of which 80% of deaths occur in low and middle income countries. In Sri Lankan context, the Non-Communicable Diseases accounted for approximately 70% of total deaths. Around 20,000 Sri Lankans die annually due to various health complications caused by the use of tobacco while another 500,000 fall sick. Approximately another 20,000 Sri Lankans die annually due to alcohol consumption. Various experimental, analytical and descriptive studies have been conducted on alcohol use. But, limited studies can be identified among certain community groups. Based on this background, this survey was conducted to determine the prevailing alcohol use among government officers in Urban Sri Lanka. Study design was a descriptive cross sectional study and study was conducted in a government office complex called Sethsiripaya in Colombo district. Study population was government officers. The participants were selected based on convenience sampling method and sample size was 442 respondents including 240 females and 202 males. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The study found that current prevalence of alcohol consumption was 46.6% of males and 1.2% females. Among the study participants 74.8% males and 5.8% females have consumed alcohol at least once in their life time. Most of the male participants have started their alcohol use between the ages of 17-19 years. A recall of alcohol consumption for the last two months revealed that 26.6% male had used over two glasses, 22.4% between 1-2 glasses and 17% less than ¼ glass per day. Also 44.7% participants had consumed alcohol every 1-2 days during the last month. Only a very few females (n=3) reported that they consumed alcohol during the last month. The most consumed alcohol type was arrack (27.7%). Also 36.9% male users consumed different types of alcohol while 17% of males had beer. Importantly, the study also revealed that 43.3% participants were attempting to quit. The study conclude that preventive activities focusing on this group should be implemented. At the same time non-drinkers must be routinely addressed to sustain their status.
Abstract: Non Communicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of death globally, of which 80% of deaths occur in low and middle income countries. In Sri Lankan context, the Non-Communicable Diseases accounted for approximately 70% of total deaths. Around 20,000 Sri Lankans die annually due to various health complications caused by the use of tobacco while ...
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