Table 1 Demographic characteristics and utilization pattern among two types of medical travelers, 2013
Government subsidized travelers | Privately funded travelers | Total | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | ||
Total | 344 (42.2) | 471 (57.8) | 815 (100) | |
Gender | <0.001 | |||
Female | 169 (49.1) | 313 (66.5) | 482 (59.1) | |
Male | 175 (50.9) | 158 (33.5) | 333 (40.9) | |
Age group | <0.001 | |||
Children <=9 yrs | 53 (15.4) | 46 (9.8) | 99 (12.1) | |
Adolescents 10–19 yrs | 24 (7) | 34 (7.2) | 58 (7.1) | |
Youth 20–29 yrs | 30 (8.7) | 64 (13.6) | 94 (11.5) | |
Adult 30–59 yrs | 163 (47.4) | 266 (56.5) | 429 (52.6) | |
Elderly >=60 yrs | 74 (21.5) | 61 (13) | 135 (16.6) | |
Region of residence | <0.001 | |||
North | 86 (25) | 159 (33.8) | 245 (30.1) | |
Central | 190 (55.2) | 176 (37.4) | 366 (44.9) | |
South | 68 (19.8) | 136 (28.9) | 204 (25) | |
Occupation of the patient | 0.007 | |||
Civil servant | 52 (15.1) | 119 (25.3) | 171 (21) | |
Private sector | 35 (10.2) | 42 (8.9) | 77 (9.4) | |
Own business | 77 (22.4) | 88 (18.7) | 165 (20.2) | |
Not employed | 136 (39.5) | 156 (33.1) | 292 (35.8) | |
Other | 44 (12.8) | 66 (14) | 110 (13.5) | |
Household size | 0.362 | |||
Small (<5members) | 201 (58.4) | 277 (58.8) | 478 (58.7) | |
Medium (6–10 members) | 100 (29.1) | 149 (31.6) | 249 (30.6) | |
Large (>10 members) | 43 (12.5) | 45 (9.6) | 88 (10.8) | |
Household income in the past montha | 0.499 | |||
Poorest 20 % | 81 (23.5) | 91 (19.3) | 172 (21.1) | |
2nd quintile | 65 (18.9) | 89 (18.9) | 154 (18.9) | |
3rd quintile | 93 (27) | 134 (28.5) | 227 (27.9) | |
4th quintile | 59 (17.2) | 78 (16.6) | 137 (16.8) | |
Richest 20 % | 46 (13.4) | 79 (16.8) | 125 (15.3) | |
Reason for seeking treatment abroad | <0.001 | |||
Quality of care | 39 (11.3) | 185 (39.3) | 224 (27.5) | |
Unavailability of service | 234 (68) | 126 (26.8) | 360 (44.2) | |
Continuity of care | 4 (1.2) | 23 (4.9) | 27 (3.3) | |
Better prices | 2 (0.6) | 19 (4) | 21 (2.6) | |
Long waiting time | 8 (2.3) | 18 (3.8) | 26 (3.2) | |
Other | 57 (16.6) | 100 (21.2) | 157 (19.3) | |
Country of treatment | 0.087 | |||
India | 239 (69.5) | 305 (64.8) | 544 (66.7) | |
Sri Lanka | 105 (30.5) | 160 (34) | 265 (32.5) | |
Thailand | 0 (0) | 5 (1.1) | 5 (0.6) | |
Italy | 0 (0) | 1 (0.2) | 1 (0.1) | |
Length of stay | <0.001 | |||
<=1 week | 53 (15.4) | 100 (21.2) | 153 (18.8) | |
2 weeks | 95 (27.6) | 180 (38.2) | 275 (33.7) | |
3 weeks | 99 (28.8) | 116 (24.6) | 215 (26.4) | |
1 month | 18 (5.2) | 30 (6.4) | 48 (5.9) | |
>1 month | 79 (23) | 45 (9.6) | 124 (15.2) | |