Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries
Abstract Background Previous studies focusing on high‐income countries have shown that young people often face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than older adults. However, in low‐middle income countries (LMICs), there have been a paucity of cross‐country, quantitative studies highlighting th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.733 |
| _version_ | 1798042274089664512 |
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| author | Nitish Nachiappan Shona Mackinnon Jean P. Ndayizeye Geva Greenfield Dougal Hargreaves |
| author_facet | Nitish Nachiappan Shona Mackinnon Jean P. Ndayizeye Geva Greenfield Dougal Hargreaves |
| author_sort | Nitish Nachiappan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies focusing on high‐income countries have shown that young people often face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than older adults. However, in low‐middle income countries (LMICs), there have been a paucity of cross‐country, quantitative studies highlighting these barriers. Aim This exploratory study aims to provide a scoping review of the publicly available Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) data with a view to form the basis for further work. Materials and methods Data on insurance coverage, agency, and access to evidence‐based family planning from 30 countries in the DHS were compared between age groups. Data on 586,250 participants 15–24 years (33% male) and 854,660 participants 25–49 years (16% male) from 30 LMICs were analyzed. Results Significantly greater barriers to accessing healthcare were observed across six variables in younger population when compared to older adults across all survey questions with an average of 8.4% point difference. Also, there was wide country‐level variation: the maximum differences between age groups were 33% points; Rwanda was the only country with no age differences. Discussion This study highlights several possible themes for future research into improving access to healthcare for young people. These themes include more detailed evaluation of country‐specific policies to reduced barriers to healthcare for young people and further research into the causative factors that can influence healthcare utilization by young people. Conclusion Our analysis showcases increased barriers to healthcare access for young people in LMICs. We argue that they can only be improved by targeted policies and direct community engagement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:33:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa7bcbcb624a4248986d4c7c7d1d39a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:33:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa7bcbcb624a4248986d4c7c7d1d39a32022-12-22T03:59:17ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352022-07-0154n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.733Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countriesNitish Nachiappan0Shona Mackinnon1Jean P. Ndayizeye2Geva Greenfield3Dougal Hargreaves4School of Public Health Imperial College School of Medicine London UKDivision of Basic Medical Sciences University of Global Health Equity Kigali RwandaDivision of Basic Medical Sciences University of Global Health Equity Kigali RwandaSchool of Public Health Imperial College School of Medicine London UKSchool of Public Health Imperial College School of Medicine London UKAbstract Background Previous studies focusing on high‐income countries have shown that young people often face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than older adults. However, in low‐middle income countries (LMICs), there have been a paucity of cross‐country, quantitative studies highlighting these barriers. Aim This exploratory study aims to provide a scoping review of the publicly available Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) data with a view to form the basis for further work. Materials and methods Data on insurance coverage, agency, and access to evidence‐based family planning from 30 countries in the DHS were compared between age groups. Data on 586,250 participants 15–24 years (33% male) and 854,660 participants 25–49 years (16% male) from 30 LMICs were analyzed. Results Significantly greater barriers to accessing healthcare were observed across six variables in younger population when compared to older adults across all survey questions with an average of 8.4% point difference. Also, there was wide country‐level variation: the maximum differences between age groups were 33% points; Rwanda was the only country with no age differences. Discussion This study highlights several possible themes for future research into improving access to healthcare for young people. These themes include more detailed evaluation of country‐specific policies to reduced barriers to healthcare for young people and further research into the causative factors that can influence healthcare utilization by young people. Conclusion Our analysis showcases increased barriers to healthcare access for young people in LMICs. We argue that they can only be improved by targeted policies and direct community engagement.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.733adolescent healthglobal healthhealthcare barriershealthcare access |
| spellingShingle | Nitish Nachiappan Shona Mackinnon Jean P. Ndayizeye Geva Greenfield Dougal Hargreaves Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries Health Science Reports adolescent health global health healthcare barriers healthcare access |
| title | Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries |
| title_full | Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries |
| title_fullStr | Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries |
| title_short | Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low‐middle income countries |
| title_sort | barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low middle income countries |
| topic | adolescent health global health healthcare barriers healthcare access |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.733 |
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