The Economic Cost of Informal Caregiving for the Inpatient: The Case of Jimma University Referral Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The demand and the supply of informal care are not limited to some specific people, country, or continent. It is one of the rotini and ongoing socio-economic problem in the world. This study analyzes the economics of informally supplied health care with special emphasis on the labor market-related opportunity cost of informal caregiving for the inpatient in Jimma university referral hospital. The study mainly used a primary data which was collected from 238 sample respondents. Empirical analysis has been performed by using the ordinary list square (OLS) and Tobit method of regression. According to the OLS and Tobit model regression result, the variable paid job experience, educational level, and employment status are statistically significant and positively related to the log of the value of informal care via the wage difference. The number of external caregivers is also positively related to the log value of informal caregiving. On the other hand, the age of informal care recipient and the interaction term (female from urban area) are also statistically significant and negatively related to the log of the value of informal care. Based on the findings, this study recommends the intervention of the government through the policy of awareness creation, financial support, work accommodation and improvement of the accessibility and facility of the hospital.