Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: September | Volume: 12 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 87-96
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220911
Socioeconomic Status and Health-Related Expenditure in Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Study
Nawalf. Alanazi1, Badr Alnasser2
1Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; Hail Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Hail, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author: Badr Alnasser
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Global economic, climate, and environmental changes are among the main factors affecting the health economies of developing and developed countries and they have a significant impact on the rate of individual and family expenditure on health services and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Aside from the formal governmental reports, there is a lack of studies that focus on the rate of per capita and family spending on the individual’s health; and studies that compare the consumption patterns and the rate of expenditure across Saudi regions.
Objectives: The study aims to describe the socio-economic status of the population in three major regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Makkah, and Hail) in respect to the rates of health-related expenditure among the population of those three regions.
Method: The study utilized a descriptive research design where secondary data gathered by the General Authority for Statistics in KSA in the year 2018 was utilized according to the purpose of the study. Comparison between the data of the three region was highlighted and discussed.
Results: The findings revealed that the average expenditure of families on health services was very minimal (1.3%) across all three regions. When comparing houshold spending on health, all the three regions scored the same, with 1% of the average monthly household expenditure goes to health, making it one of the least consumed items among families in all three regions. However, health insurance coverage among Saudi citizens shows large discrepancies, with the highest coverage rate shown in Makkah region, followed by Riyadh region, and finally Hail region.
Conclusion: The transformation of the health care system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must take into consideration the low trends on healthcare consumption among Saudi families and design policies that ensure that healthcare coverage include all housholds in different regions regardless of their socio-economic status.
Key words: [Expenditure, Health, Saudi Arabia, Socioeconomic Status]