Catastrophic Healthcare Expenditure Among Households in Sunyani West District, Bono Region of Ghana

Abstract Catastrophic Healthcare Expenditure (CHE) among households is a global menace challenging the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). CHE refers to expenditure made by households on healthcare exceeding a certain proportion of the overall household income. This study assessed the prevalence of CHE; the socio-economic factors associated with CHE and the strategies for coping with CHE among households in the Sunyani West District of Ghana. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 300 households’ that reported illnesses within the past three months. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 12.1. Descriptive statistics on the prevalence of CHE were generated. Logistic regression was performed to identify the socio-economic factors associated with CHE. The results showed that CHE prevalence was (55.1%) at 10% threshold and (31.5%) at 15% threshold. Respondent’s age, marital status, educational status, occupation, household size, and type of health facility were statistically significantly (p