Harvard Global Equity Initiative, Harvard University, USA.
Salud Publica Mex. 2011;53 Suppl 2:s85-95.
Compare patterns of catastrophic health expenditures in 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prevalence of catastrophic expenses was estimated uniformly at the household level using household surveys. Two types of prevalence indicators were used based on out-of-pocket health expense: a) relative to an international poverty line, and b) relative to the household's ability to pay net of their food basket. Ratios of catastrophic expenditures were estimated across subgroups defined by economic and social variables.
The percent of households with catastrophic health expenditures ranged from 1 to 25% in the twelve countries. In general, rural residence, lowest quintile of income, presence of older adults, and lack of health insurance in the household are associated with higher propensity of catastrophic health expenditures. However, there is vast heterogeneity by country.
Cross national studies may serve to examine how health systems contribute to the social protection of Latin American households.
比较拉丁美洲和加勒比地区 12 个国家灾难性卫生支出的模式。
采用家庭调查，在家庭层面统一估计灾难性支出的发生率。根据自付卫生费用，使用了两种类型的流行率指标：a）相对于国际贫困线，b）相对于家庭扣除食品篮后的支付能力。根据经济和社会变量定义的亚组估计灾难性支出的比例。
在这 12 个国家中，有灾难性卫生支出的家庭比例在 1%至 25%之间。一般来说，农村居民、收入最低的五分之一、有老年人以及家庭中没有医疗保险，与更高的灾难性卫生支出倾向有关。然而，各国之间存在很大的异质性。
跨国研究可以用来研究卫生系统如何有助于拉丁美洲家庭的社会保护。
