Out-of-Pocket Spending on Patients in Addiction Prevention and Treatment Centers, El Salvador, 2023

Abstract

Out-of-pocket health spending is one of the factors that determine people's income and, therefore, their development. Those who make monetary payments for good health allocate part of their income to cover this need. The purpose was to analyze the association of socioeconomic determinants with out-of-pocket spending, as well as to create profiles associated with the type of addiction in the population attending Addiction Prevention and Treatment Centers in El Salvador from January to June 2023. The study was quantitative, analytical, prospective, cross-sectional, and correlational in scope, with descriptive statistical analysis, multiple correspondence analysis, Spearman's correlation, and binary logistic regression, with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of p < 0.05. The study revealed an average direct expenditure on medications of USD 45.30 and an average indirect expenditure on transportation of USD 9.90. Furthermore, there is a moderate and significant negative correlation (-0.52) between out-of-pocket spending and user income. Out-of-pocket spending was associated with age, marital status, and the location of the care center. The out-of-pocket spending of users of Addiction Prevention and Treatment Centers averaged $31 per month, representing 12.75% of their income. This correlation was associated with users' age, marital status, and attendance at the Cuscatancingo Center.