Out-of-pocket health expenditure, social protection, and life expectancy of female-headed households in China

Jiana Dang, Xiaoqin Niu, Haopu Lei

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between out-of-pocket health expenditure, social protection interventions, and life expectancy of female-headed households in China. The study was based on data extracted from the World Bank (2021) Global Financial Inclusion Index (Global Findex) and applied the descriptive statistics and the Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLS). The results show that there is a significant positive coefficient for social protection in total households, females, and males, indicating a beneficial link between social protection programs and life expectancy in female-headed households in China. Conversely, negative coefficients for out-of-pocket health expenditure suggest that higher healthcare costs are associated with lower life expectancy, highlighting the financial strain on these households. These submissions justify the necessity for social protection interventions in improving health outcomes and addressing financial barriers to healthcare access for female-headed households in China.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Wang L, Nwabuoku M, Zhang J and Osabohien R. Gender

disparity in access to education, under-5 mortality, and

economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. African

Journal of Reproductive Health, 2023, 27(12), 27-35.

Zhou D, Ahuru R R, Yan M, Osabohien R and Jakovljevic M.

Influences of women empowerment indices on demand

for childcare services: Evidence from the Nigeria

Demographic and Health Surveys. African Journal of

Reproductive Health, 2023, 27(10), 65-80.

Zhou D, Bassey R.A, Yan M and Aderemi T A. Do health

expenditures affect under-five mortality and life

expectancy in ECOWAS sub-Region? African Journal

of Reproductive Health, 2023, 27(8), 105-113.

Osabohien R, Jaaffar AH, Akpa AF and Jakovljevic M.

Mobile money, medical cost anxiety and welfare of

individuals within the reproductive age in

Malaysia. Humanities and Social Sciences

Communications, 2024, 11(1), 1-10.

World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2018:

Primary Health Care - Now More than Ever. Geneva:

WHO. (2018).

Meng J. Gender differences in out-of-pocket health care

expenditures in rural China. International Journal for

Equity in Health, 2019, 18(1), 1-10.

Nasir M H, Anser M K, Ahuru R R, Osabohien R, Ebiaku K.

C and Abbas S. A comparative study of the effect of

health insurance on women’s use of health facility

delivery: Evidence from demographic health survey in

Benin Republic. African Journal of Reproductive

Health, 2022, 26(6), 104-115.

Sui Y, Ahuru RR, Huang K, Anser MK and Osabohien, R.

Household socioeconomic status and antenatal care

utilization among women in the reproductiveage. Frontiers in public health, 2021, 9, 724337.

Li Y. Social protection interventions and health outcomes

among female-headed households in China. Journal of

Health Economics, 2020, 25(3), 321-335.

World Bank. World Development Indicators. Retrieved

From, https://databank.wprldbank.org/source/worlddevelopment-indicators,2024.

Osabohien R, Matthew O, Ohalete P and Osabuohien E.

Population–poverty–inequality nexus and social

protection in Africa. Social Indicators Research, 2020,

(2), 575-598.

Matthew O, Adeniji A, Osabohien R, Olawande T and

Atolagbe T. Gender inequality, maternal mortality and

inclusive growth in Nigeria. Social Indicators Research,

, 147, 763-780.

Goudge J, Alaba OA, Govender V, Harris B, Nxumalo N

and Chersich M F. Social health insurance contributes to

universal coverage in South Africa, but generates

inequities: survey among members of a government

employee insurance scheme. International journal for

equity in health, 2018, 17, 1-13.

Okafor VI, Olurinola I O, Bowale E and Osabohien R.

Financial development and income inequality in

Africa. Humanities and Social Sciences

Communications, 2023,

(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01810-y.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.