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Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia

Ensuring universal access to healthcare is essential for societal equity. However, significant inequalities exist within global healthcare systems, resulting in unequal access to services and divergent health outcomes. Socioeconomic inequity, poor living conditions, and inadequate healthcare infrast...

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Main Authors: Adilius Manual, Mohd Yusof Ibrahim, Ho, Chong Mun, Norazah Mohd Suki
Format: Article
Language:English
English
Published: Penerbit UMS 2024
Subjects:
R5-920 Medicine (General)
RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research
Online Access:https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/1/ABSTRACT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/
https://doi.org/10.51200/bjms.v18i3.5372
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spelling my.ums.eprints.411292024-10-01T02:24:42Z https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/ Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia Adilius Manual Mohd Yusof Ibrahim Ho, Chong Mun Norazah Mohd Suki R5-920 Medicine (General) RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research Ensuring universal access to healthcare is essential for societal equity. However, significant inequalities exist within global healthcare systems, resulting in unequal access to services and divergent health outcomes. Socioeconomic inequity, poor living conditions, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure perpetuate poor health among poor communities. Despite greater healthcare needs, economically disadvantaged populations face substantial barriers to obtaining necessary services. This research evaluates the equitable aspect of healthcare utilisation in Sabah’s rural areas to guide policy formulation. Nabawan, a rural area in Sabah with high poverty rates, was selected to assess income-related inequality and inequity in healthcare utilisation. Using the horizontal equity index and decomposition analysis, it was found that economic status significantly influences healthcare distribution, typically favouring the affluent. Central to this analysis is the concept of “equal treatment for equal need,” ensuring individuals with similar healthcare needs receive similar care regardless of economic status. Results indicate that wealthier individuals are slightly more likely to utilise healthcare services, although the difference is minimal. To address disparities, enhancing targeted financial assistance programs like PeKa B40 could reduce out-of-pocket expenses for low-income households. Additionally, increasing healthcare funding for rural infrastructure and training local healthcare workers can ensure equitable access for all households. Penerbit UMS 2024 Article NonPeerReviewed text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/1/ABSTRACT.pdf text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf Adilius Manual and Mohd Yusof Ibrahim and Ho, Chong Mun and Norazah Mohd Suki (2024) Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia. Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 18 (3). pp. 122-136. ISSN 1985-1758 https://doi.org/10.51200/bjms.v18i3.5372
institution Universiti Malaysia Sabah
building UMS Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaysia Sabah
content_source UMS Institutional Repository
url_provider http://eprints.ums.edu.my/
language English
English
topic R5-920 Medicine (General)
RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research
spellingShingle R5-920 Medicine (General)
RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research
Adilius Manual
Mohd Yusof Ibrahim
Ho, Chong Mun
Norazah Mohd Suki
Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
description Ensuring universal access to healthcare is essential for societal equity. However, significant inequalities exist within global healthcare systems, resulting in unequal access to services and divergent health outcomes. Socioeconomic inequity, poor living conditions, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure perpetuate poor health among poor communities. Despite greater healthcare needs, economically disadvantaged populations face substantial barriers to obtaining necessary services. This research evaluates the equitable aspect of healthcare utilisation in Sabah’s rural areas to guide policy formulation. Nabawan, a rural area in Sabah with high poverty rates, was selected to assess income-related inequality and inequity in healthcare utilisation. Using the horizontal equity index and decomposition analysis, it was found that economic status significantly influences healthcare distribution, typically favouring the affluent. Central to this analysis is the concept of “equal treatment for equal need,” ensuring individuals with similar healthcare needs receive similar care regardless of economic status. Results indicate that wealthier individuals are slightly more likely to utilise healthcare services, although the difference is minimal. To address disparities, enhancing targeted financial assistance programs like PeKa B40 could reduce out-of-pocket expenses for low-income households. Additionally, increasing healthcare funding for rural infrastructure and training local healthcare workers can ensure equitable access for all households.
format Article
author Adilius Manual
Mohd Yusof Ibrahim
Ho, Chong Mun
Norazah Mohd Suki
author_facet Adilius Manual
Mohd Yusof Ibrahim
Ho, Chong Mun
Norazah Mohd Suki
author_sort Adilius Manual
title Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
title_short Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
title_full Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
title_fullStr Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural Sabah, Malaysia
title_sort horizontal inequality in healthcare utilisation in rural sabah, malaysia
publisher Penerbit UMS
publishDate 2024
url https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/1/ABSTRACT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41129/
https://doi.org/10.51200/bjms.v18i3.5372
_version_ 1811684243133169664
score 13.211869

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