Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors influencing Healthcare Utilization in Zambia

Abstract

Healthcare utilization is a complex phenomenon that is influenced by socioeconomic and demographic factors. In Zambia, an interplay between socioeconomic and demographic factors play a critical role in influencing behaviour to seeking healthcare and access to healthcare services. The main objective of the study is to examine the influence of socioeconomic and demographic factors on healthcare utilization in Zambia with particular focus on rural-urban differentials, level of wealth, education and health insurance coverage. In this study, a quantitative research methodology was adopted. The study uses 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) a population-based survey to examine the relationship that exist between socio-economic and demographic factors, and the utilization of healthcare, and a linear logistic regression model will be employed to analyse the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The results showed there are higher odds of healthcare utilization for the elderly, females, urban residents, people with high income, people living near healthcare facilities, those with health insurance cover, those with high level of education and those in employment while the youth, males, those without health insurance cover, rural residents, the poor, those living distant to healthcare facilities, those with no education and the unemployed had lower odds of healthcare utilization. In addition, distance to healthcare facility and health insurance cover had p values greater than 0.05. The results provide data driven insights for policymakers to formulate targeted interventions to improve healthcare utilization, strategically allocate limited resources and design policies that address financial barriers, improve rural infrastructure and promote health literacy among vulnerable population groups. Keywords: Healthcare utilization, socioeconomic, demographic, healthcare access, education and Zambia