Catastrophic health expenditure among ex-Gazan families in Jerash camp, Jordan

This study investigated the magnitude of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) among ex-Gazan households in Jerash camp in Jordan.

This retrospective survey used a systematic sample.

A systematic sample was used wherein every fifth house in Jerash camp was invited to participate in the study. The camp represents the largest community of ex-Gazan refugees in Jerash camp. Of the 1038 households who were invited, 976 households agreed to participate (response rate = 94%) and filled the pilot-structured questionnaire with information related to their socio-economic characteristics, health status, and their healthcare and total household expenditures. van Doorslaer's method was used to calculate the frequency of CHE, wherein the expenditure on health care was considered catastrophic if it exceeded 10% of a household's total expenditure.

Of the sample, 41.8% suffered from CHE. Moreover, we calculated the frequency of CHE using 15%, 20%, 30%, and 40% as threshold values, and the total rates were 14.7, 6.3, 1, and 0.3%, respectively. In addition, the statistical analysis of the results showed higher frequencies of CHE in households with larger number of dependents, those headed by widowed women, and those with history of hospitalizations.

The study shows that the rate of CHE in Jerash camp is very high and mainly due to the cost of hospitalization. Special attention should be paid for the residents of that area.