title: Can Households Cope with Health Shocks in Vietnam?
abstract: This paper investigates the economic impact of health shocks on working-age adults in Vietnam during 2004-2008, using a fixed effects specification. Health shocks cover disability and morbidity and are measured by 'days unable to carry out regular activity', 'days in bed due to illness/injury', and 'hospitalization'. Overall, Vietnamese households are able to smooth total non-health expenditures in the short run in the face of a significant rise in out-of-pocket health expenditures. However, this is accomplished through vulnerability-enhancing mechanisms, especially in rural areas, including increased loans and asset sales and decreased education expenditures. Female-headed and rural households are found to be the least able to protect consumption. Results highlight the need to extend and deepen social protection and universal health coverage. © 2015 The Authors. Health Economics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Fordham University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mont
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Groce
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D036262:Empirical Research; D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D011203:Poverty; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam
keywords: Vietnam; coping mechanisms; disability; expenditures; health shocks; morbidity