Inequality in out of pocket fees, government funding and utilisation of maternal health services in Australia

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Callander, Emily J
Shand, Antonia
Nassar, Natasha
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2021
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

This study aimed to assess the distribution of service utilisation, out-of-pocket fees and government funding for maternal health care in Australia by socioeconomic group. A large linked administrative dataset was utilised. Women were grouped into socioeconomic quintiles using an area-based measure of socioeconomic status. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the distribution of number of services, out of pocket fees, and government funding by socioeconomic quintile. Needs-adjusted concentration indices (CINA) were utilised to quantify inequity. The mean out of pocket fees for women of least socioeconomic advantage was $1,026 and for women of most socioeconomic advantage the mean was $2,432 (CINA 0.093, 95% CI: 0.088 – 0.098). However, use of many services were higher for women of most socioeconomic advantage: private obstetrician (CINA: 0.035, 95% CI: 0.032 – 0.038), other specialist services (CINA: 0.089, 95%CI: 0.083 – 0.094), and diagnostic and pathology tests (CINA: 0.027, 95%CI: 0.025 – 0.030). Federal government funding through Medicare was distributed towards women of most socioeconomic advantage (CINA: 0.036, 95%CI: 0.033 – 0.039); whereas government public hospital funding was skewed towards women of least socioeconomic advantage (CINA: -0.05, 95%CI: -0.057 - -0.046). Future policy changes in Australia's healthcare system need to ensure that women of least socioeconomic advantage have adequate access to maternity and early childhood care, and out of pocket fees are not an access barrier.

Journal Title

Health Policy

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

125

Issue

6

Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Health policy

Public health

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Health Care Sciences & Services

Maternal

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Callander, EJ; Shand, A; Nassar, N, Inequality in out of pocket fees, government funding and utilisation of maternal health services in Australia, Health Policy, 2021, 125 (6), pp. 701-708

Collections