"<i>Private Hospitals Generally Offer Better Treatment and Facilities</i>": Out-of-Pocket Expenditure on Healthcare and the Preference for Private Healthcare Providers in South India.

ABSTRACT: Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) directly reflects households' financial burden for healthcare. Despite efforts to enhance accessibility and affordability through government initiatives and insurance schemes, OOPE remains problematic, especially in rural areas with inadequate public healthcare infrastructure. This study examines factors influencing OOPE in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shimoga districts, investigating socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare infrastructure, and accessibility to inform policies for equitable healthcare access and reduced household financial strain. Using purposive sampling, 61 semi-structured interviews were conducted in rural and urban South Karnataka, recorded in Kannada after obtaining consent, and thematically analyzed. Results revealed mixe

SUBMITTER: Kamath S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11508021 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature