The Role Of Socioeconomic Inequality In Out-Of-Pocket Health Care

Socioeconomically disadvantaged population incurs a higher financial burden due to out- of-pocket healthcare payments in many low and middle income countries (ref). Furthermore they are being restricted from seeking healthcare services when needed (insert), and pushed to sever impoverishment (insert) due to selling household assets, disability and higher expenses for medical care from their own pocket (ref). Afghanistan has experienced long years of devastated conflict (insert); many of country infrastructures were destroyed including health system (insert), greater efforts are being put in place both by government and international society to recover country health system and provide quality health services to population, during the last decade particularly by introducing the basic package and comprehensive packages of healthcare services (insert) as a result of these efforts Afghanistan made substantial progress in health sector (insert). Maternal mortality rate fallen from 1600 in 2000 to 374 in 2010 (insert), under five mortality rate decreased from 265 in 2000 to 94 in 2010 (insert), access to basic healthcare services increased from 9% in 2000 to 65% in 2010 (insert); however considerable challenges exist for
Thus exploring socioeconomic factors associated with higher financial burden in healthcare is vital from health policy perspective to inform appropriate policy and interventions that facilitate equally healthcare utilization without confronting financial constraints for vulnerable population (insert 3 OLD). there for using first nationwide survey; this study attempted to assess inequality in the distribution of out-of-pocket inpatient healthcare payments among subjects with different wealth status, place of residence (Urban/Rural), and distance from healthcare