Health Services Utilization among Older Adults in Pokhara Metropolitan City.

ABSTRACT

The Government of Nepal provides a range of welfare schemes to senior citizens, but little is known about the use of public benefits by older adults. This community-based cross-sectional survey thus aims to assess the utilization and correlates of health services (through both private and public health facilities), free essential health services (provided by the government through public health facilities), and other welfare schemes - discounts in health treatment for certain diseases, monthly senior citizen allowance, reservation and concession in transportation, and the government-run health insurance program - among 201 Nepali older adults. Notably, a sizable proportion of the participants (22.4%) did not visit a health facility despite having a health problem. Females and those with higher co-morbidity had higher odds of health facility visits. Only 8% utilized the free essential health services, and 47% one or more of the other welfare schemes. Lack of awareness of free health services and welfare schemes were associated with lower odds of their utilization, respectively.