1. Financial burden of health care for HIV/AIDS patients in Vietnam.
- Author
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Tran BX, Duong AT, Nguyen LT, Hwang J, Nguyen BT, Nguyen QT, Nong VM, Vu PX, and Ohinmaa A
- Subjects
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome drug therapy, Adult, Anti-Retroviral Agents therapeutic use, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active methods, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, HIV Infections drug therapy, Humans, Male, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology, Socioeconomic Factors, Vietnam epidemiology, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome economics, Anti-Retroviral Agents economics, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active economics, HIV Infections economics, Health Care Costs, Health Expenditures statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Objective: To assess the out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for health-care services of HIV/AIDS patients, and identify associated factors in Vietnam., Methods: Cross-sectional multisite survey of 1016 HIV/AIDS patients attending 7 hospitals and health centres in Ha Noi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City in 2012., Results: HIV/AIDS patients used inpatient and outpatient care on average 5.1 times (95% CI = 4.7-5.4) besides ART services. Inpatient care cost US$ 461 on average and outpatient care US$ 50. Mean annual health-care expenditure for HIV/AIDS patients was US$ 188 (95% CI = 148-229). 35.1% of households (95% CI = 32.2-38.1) experienced catastrophic health expenditure; 73.3% (95% CI = 70.6-76.1) of households would be affected if ART were not subsidised. Being a patient at a provincial clinic, male sex, unstable employment, being in the poorest income quintile, a CD4 count of <200 cells/mL and not yet receiving ART increased the likelihood of catastrophic medical expense., Conclusions: HIV/AIDS patients in Vietnam frequently use medical services and incur OOP payments for health care. Scaling up free-of-charge ART services, earlier access to and initiation of ART, and decentralisation and integration of HIV/AIDS-related services could reduce their financial burden., (© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)
- Published
- 2013
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