Consumption patterns and levels among households with HIV positive members and economic impoverishment due to medical spending in Pune city, India

Abstract

HIV infection poses a serious threat to the economy of a household. Out of pocket (OOP) health spending can be prohibitive and can drag households below poverty level. Based on the data collected from a cross-sectional survey of 401 households with HIV+ members in Pune city, India, this paper examines the consumption levels and patterns among households, and comments on the economic impoverishment resulting from OOP medical spending. Analysis reveals that households with HIV members spend a major portion of their monthly consumption expenditure on food items. Medical expenditure constitutes a large portion of their total consumption spending. Expenditure on children's education constitutes a minor proportion of total monthly spending. A high proportion of medical expenditure has a bearing on the economic condition of households with HIV members. Poverty increases by 20% among the studied HIV households when OOP health spending is adjusted. It increases 18% among male-headed households and 26% among female-headed households. The results reiterate the need of greater support from the government in terms of accessibility and affordability of health care to save households with HIV members from economic catastrophe.

Keywords:

• coping strategies
• economic impoverishment
• HIV
• out of pocket health spending
• India

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the NMP+ for allowing us to conduct this study at their PLC and the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial fund, New Delhi, for providing a generous fellowship to conduct this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Interviews were conducted at the office of the PLC located at Mangalwar Peth (this was later shifted to the Nehru Nagar area).

2. PLC was an initiative of the NMP+ in District Level Network (DLN+).

3. Only the first author had access to the names and addresses of respondents and maintained a separate sheet with the assigned unique numbers.

4. The local language.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the NMP+ for allowing us to conduct this study at their PLC and the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial fund, New Delhi, for providing a generous fellowship to conduct this study.