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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research

The effects of poverty reduction policy on health services utilization among the rural poor: a quasi-experimental study in central and western rural China

Authors: Qi Zou, Xiaoqun He, Zhong Li, Wanchun Xu, Liang Zhang

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

China poverty reduction policy (PRP) addresses two important elements: the targeted poverty reduction (TPA) project since 2015 in line with social assistance policy as national policy; and reducing inequality in health services utilization by making provision of medical financial assistance (MFA). Therefore, this study aims to assess the effects of the PRP in health services utilization (both inpatient and outpatient services) among the central and western rural poor of China.

Methods

The study conducted household survey and applied propensity score matching (PSM) method to assess the effects of the PRP on health services utilization among the rural poor of Central and Western China. A sensitivity test was also performed on the PSM results to test their robustness.

Results

Key findings showed 17.6% of respondents were the beneficial of PRP. The average treatment effects on the treated (ATT) of the PRP on the inpatient visits within one year was found significantly positive (P = 0.026).

Conclusion

There has been relationship between PRP with medical financial assistance and reduction of inequality in health services utilization by the poorer, in particular to accessing the inpatient services from the county or township hospitals of China. Policy makers should pay attention for making provision of improving responsiveness of supply, when subsidizing on the demand side.
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Metadata
Title
The effects of poverty reduction policy on health services utilization among the rural poor: a quasi-experimental study in central and western rural China
Authors
Qi Zou
Xiaoqun He
Zhong Li
Wanchun Xu
Liang Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1099-7

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