Self-reported health problems, health care seeking behaviour and cost coping mechanism of older people: Implication for primary health care delivery in rural Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Optimum utilization of primary health care system by older people is a challenge for every low and middle income country. Little is known about self reported health problems, health care seeking behaviour and cost coping mechanism of older people in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure self-reported health problems, health care seeking behaviour and expenditure coping mechanism of older people, and to describe its implication for primary health care delivery in rural Bangladesh. METHODOLOGY: It was a cross sectional study. In total, 362 older people were enrolled who sought health care preceding the last month of the interview. Descriptive and bivariate data analysis along with proportion test (z test) was carried out. RESULTS: The most frequent self-reported health problems were fever (43.8%) followed by physical pain (15.2%). More than half of the respondents (57.5%) had a second health problem. Only one third (33.8%) visited qualified health providers having minimum western health or medical training from government approved authority. More than half (54%) of the older people spent for health care out of pocket from their own. Only 2% older people sold their assets or took loans to meet their health care. 36% older people thought that they could afford to pay for health care in future. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will help in developing primary health care policy for older people in rural Bangladesh and similar settings in South Asia.