Health Expenditure Modelling in Southeast of Iran: A Population-Based Setting Using Quantile Regression Perspective

Background: Equity in health is the focus of attention in the world health circles in recent decades. The financing of household health expenditure is, therefore, a concern in any region. Objectives: The current study aimed at exploring the determinants of household health expenditure in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Southeast of Iran. Methods: The data of the current study were a part of the Iranian households’ income and expenditure survey, administered by the Iranian statistical center (ISC) from March 2013 to March 2014. A 3-stage stratified cluster sampling method was employed in the current cross sectional survey. A total of 1391 households from Sistan and Baluchistan province were randomly selected. The study employed quantile regression modelling to determine the effective explanatory variables of household health expenses. R programming language version 3.3.2 was used for data analysis. Results: It was found that annual median per capita medical expenditure was US$ 5.36 (first quartile = 0; third quartile = 38.31). Households also spent about 3.9% of their annual income on health expenses per capita. Literacy, occupational status of household head, and family income had significant effect on the median of household health expenses. Conclusions: Researchers and policy makers should pay more attention to household health expenses, as it is an important matter in the low-income and deprived areas.