Healthcare access and deprivation in low-income urban households

Abstract

The financial situation of households is related to their access to healthcare and their level of deprivation. This study analysed the factors that influence access to healthcare among low-income households in Gauteng, South Africa. A quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted using the binary logistic regression technique, drawing on the Gauteng City-Region Observatory Quality of Life 2020/2021 data, consisting of 9700 observations randomly drawn from eight municipalities. Based on marginal effects, the study findings revealed that seven factors significantly influenced access to healthcare. That is, healthcare source, nonuse of public facilities, proximity to a healthcare facility, satisfaction with healthcare services, medical aid, health status, health work, social health activities, and chronic illness. More effort is needed to harness Gauteng’s economic progress towards alleviating poverty and increasing opportunities to lift low-income households out of the poverty trap. Investment in an advanced public health care system, public–private sector coordination, improved health budget allocation, and doctor-patient ratio will reduce the out-of-pocket costs of poor households.