Socioeconomic status and health outcomes.pptx

Health outcomes

1. Group 4 An investigation of the Socioeconomic status and health outcomes in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

2. Background Across the world, studies have shown that disparities in health do exist, mostly favor the high-income groups and are more pronounced in some countries than others , ( Doorslaer and Koolman, 2021). Research on the effects of socioeconomic well-being on health is important for policy makers in developing countries, where limited resources make it crucial to use existing health care resources to the best advantage. For most people in sub-Saharan Africa, the choice of health care provider is limited. The region bears 24% of the global burden of disease, but only 3% of the world’s health care workforce, (WHO, 2018). While considerable progress has been made in expanding the range of health care services in sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, as well as in retaining health care professionals in their native countries, most people in the region, and rural areas in particular, continue to face very limited health care choices, ( International Finance Corporation, 2021).  In Zimbabwe, the level and quality of health care delivery has been drastically affected by broader economic and political conditions. The country operates a four-tier health care system, consisting of public and private health centers providing preventive and curative services, this means that Zimbabweans continue to  enjoy the right to choose their source of health services though limited.

3. continued... The country's economic downturn has resulted in hyperinflation, increased poverty rates, and diminished access to essential services, including healthcare. However, almost all health services in Zimbabwe have some form of cost attached, therefore, Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a crucial role in determining health outcomes, with evidence indicating that individuals from lower SES backgrounds experience greater barriers to accessing healthcare services. The degradation in the quality of health as a result of the exodus of qualified health professionals to neighboring countries and abroad which contributed to inequalities in health (WHO, 2019), have not spared the metropolitant city of Bulawayo. This study seeks to develop and tests a set of measures of socioeconomic status indicators for predicting health status in Zimbabwe. It as well focused on demonstrating the distinctive contributions of socioeconomic indexes as measured at the household in comparison to community level so as to understand the inequalities in health and survival and underlines the importance of going beyond the purely economic view of socioeconomic status to cover the multidimensional as well as multilevel concept of economic and social inequality

4. Problem statement The Zimbabwe Vision 2030 is “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030, with Job Opportunities and a High Quality of Life for its Citizens”, (GoZ, 2018). The Vision for Social Development is for Government to invest in sufficient state of the art medical and educational facilities, in collaboration with the private sector, development partners and faith based organisations. However, the socioeconomic status disparities continue to be the leading social factor to enhance health outcomes in Zimbabwe in the year 2024. In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, socioeconomic status significantly influences health outcomes and access to healthcare services. Despite efforts to improve healthcare access, disparities persist, particularly among low-income populations. Many individuals from lower SES backgrounds face substantial barriers to healthcare, including high user fees, inadequate transportation, and limited availability of quality services. This situation is compounded by the economic challenges that have plagued Zimbabwe, leading to a decline in health service quality and an increase in maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates Understanding the specific ways in which SES affects healthcare access and utilization in Bulawayo is crucial for developing targeted interventions that address these disparities and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations

5. OBJECTIVES Broad: To investigate the relationship between socio- economic status and health outcomes in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Specific: To evaluate how different levels of socioeconomic status influence health outcomes among various populations in Zimbabwe. To identify patterns of healthcare utilization based on SES, focusing on the types of healthcare providers accessed by individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. To explore the barriers faced by low SES individuals in accessing healthcare services, including financial constraints, geographic location, and availability of services.

6. Research Questions Broad: How does socioeconomic status (SES) influence health outcomes and access to healthcare services among different population groups in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe? Specific: What is the relationship between different levels of socioeconomic status and health outcomes in Bulawayo? How do patterns of healthcare utilization differ among individuals from varying socioeconomic backgrounds in Bulawayo? Why do individuals with low socioeconomic status continue to face barriers in accessing quality healthcare services in Bulawayo?

7. Justification Socioeconomic status is a critical social factor affecting health outcomes in Zimbabwe, given the country’s significant economic and healthcare challenges. Rationale: Socioeconomic status is a well documented determinant of health globally, in sub-Saharan Africa and few done specifically for maternal health in Zimbabwe. Health outcome disparities such as life expectancy of 60-65, disease prevalence which are influenced by socioeconomic status. other disparities such as socioeconomic inequalities which affects access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Zimbabwe healthcare system struggles with resource constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and brain drain. This study sought to investigate the relationship between socialeconomic status and health outcomes providing valuable insights for policyand intervention strategies to address health inequities.

8. METHODOLOGY Introduction This study employs a cross sectional design to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes among the citizens of Bulawayo metropolitant city in Zimbabwe. Aquantitative approach will be used to collect data from the selected sample. Research design Observational Descriptive Cross-sectional Mixed approach Critiquing the design Intergration challenges Skill requirements Ambiguity in design Ethical considerations The data is going to be collected from the adults who are above 18years of age on the agreed written consent

9. Continued... Population The study population will consists of those adults of high and low socioeconomic status in the city of Bulawayo Sampling Probability Stratified Stratas Data collection methods Self-administered questionaires, Structured interviews, Observations, Existing data sets, google forms, SurveyMonkey, Online interview platform(e.g zoom), Qualtrics Data analysis Descriptive statistics will summarize the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the participants. Bivariate analyses (e.g., chi-square tests) will examine associations between SES indicators and health outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression models will be employed to adjust for potential confounders (e.g., age, gender) and assess the impact of SES on healthcare access and utilization

10. Expected outcomes Identification of critical socio-economic factors influencing environmental health in Bulawayo Improved understanding of socio-economic factors affecting environmental health. Evidence-based policy recommendations. Enhanced community engagement and education. Contributions to sustainable development and health equity. Coming up with informed health policies and programs to address socioeconomic disparities. Guiding resource allocation to vulnerable populations

11. RECOMMENDATIONS Enhance Access to Healthcare Services Implement policies that reduce financial barriers to healthcare, such as subsidizing costs for low-income individuals and improving transportation options to health facilities. Community Health Education Develop targeted health education programs which should be culturally relevant and accessible. Strengthen Social Safety Nets Expand social protection programs that provide financial assistance and support to vulnerable populations. Improve Living Conditions Focus on improving the social determinants of health by enhancing housing quality, access to clean water, sanitation, and nutritious food. Collaborative Multi-Sectoral Approaches Foster partnerships between health services, educational institutions, and community organizations to create comprehensive strategies that address health disparities through a holistic approach. Regular Monitoring and Evaluation Establish systems for ongoing assessment of health outcomes related to socioeconomic status to inform policy adjustments and ensure that interventions are effective over time

12. References World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2018: Primary Health Care – Now More Than Ever. 2018. Available from:  http://www.who.int/whr/2018/en/index.htm Saito E, Gilmour S, Yoneoka D, Gautam GS, Rahman MM, Shrestha PK, Shibuya K. Inequality and inequity in health care utilization in urban Nepal: a cross-sectional observational study. Health policy and planning. 2016;31:817–24. czv137 International Finance Corporation (2021). Africa Health Care Report & IFC Strategy. 2021. Available from:  http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/media.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/SM09_AfricaHealthCare_IssueBrief/$FILE/SM09_AfricaHealthCare_IssueBrief.pdf Van der Plaetse B, Hlatiwayo G, Van Eygen L, et al. Costs and Revenue of Health Care in a Rural Zimbabwean District. Health Policy Plann 2015;20:243-51. van Doorslaer E, Koolman X. Explaining the differences in income-related health inequalities across European countries. Health Econ. 20 21 ;13(7):609–28. WHO. Human Resources for Health, Country Profile Zimbabwe. In.: CSO, Census 20 2 2 & ICDS 20 23 ; 20 19 .

13. Thank you Group Members Gumbo Nyemwererai Nyangani Sarmantha Svosve Dian a M a g a d z i r e A l i c e Mveko Thulani Chimedza Brian Maparara Bria n Ndavazocheva Moses