A Study on Morbidity Pattern, Treatment Seeking Behavior and Healthcare Expenditure among Urban Poor of Danapur Slums of Patna, India

To determine the morbidity pattern, treatment seeking behavior and health care expenditure among urban poor.

A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in four selected slums in Danapur, Patna Bihar India. The analysis was based on self-reported illness episodes, place of treatment and their costs.

The morbidity pattern showed cough, cold, diarrhea and diabetes as the most prevalent illnesses. The burden of acute illnesses was higher (48%) as compared to chronic illnesses (42%). Sixty-eight percent household seeks treatment from the private health care providers as they were major healthcare providers in all types of illnesses. The share of household income spent on health care in the last three month was 23.28%.

Health care expenditure will inevitably increase in the next decade in India. This conclusion is based on the observation that the chronic illnesses, prevalent, mainly among the adults and elderly, were much costlier, coupled with demographic transition.