Pattern of health care utilization and determinants of care-seeking from GPs in two districts of Pakistan

The aims of the study were to describe the pattern of health care utilization and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in seeking health care, and to identify the determinants of care-seeking from private general practitioners (GP) in two districts of Pakistan. During July-September 2001, we conducted a cross-sectional study in two districts in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. We selected 1,150 participants age > or = 3 months through a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Information was collected about contacts with healthcare providers during the past three months, presenting complaints, type of treatment received, and cost of the latest visit. Of 1,150 participants, 967 (84%) had at least one contact with health care providers during past three months. The mean number of contacts was 1.7. Most of the contacts (66.8%) were with private GPs. The average cost per visit was Pak Rs 106 (US dollar 1.7) and Rs 38 (US dollar 0.6) for GPs and public sector providers, respectively. A multiple logistic regression model revealed those living in urban areas, with monthly household income > Rs 2,500 (US dollar 39.7), an education level > 5 years, and who received both injections and oral drugs were more likely to visit private general practitioners.