Household structure, social protection and health seeking behaviour in South Africa

Abstract

Social protection and related initiatives have been targeted at reducing poverty, providing assistance for families with children and providing people with healthcare and housing. Healthcare provision, particularly, constitutes an essential component of a minimum package of goods and services for the development and advancement of individuals within the household system. This paper utilizes the 2004 South Africa General Household Survey, which contains detailed information on household structure and health-seeking behaviour. So far, the results suggest that differences in family structure strongly influence the decision to attend various healthcare facilities.