Socioeconomic determinants of health enhancing expenditure among the elderly in Malaysia: an ethnic comparison

• Main Author: Yong, Kang Cheah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2015
• Online Access: http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9033/1/jeko_49%281%29-9.pdf; http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9033/; http://www.ukm.my/fep/jem/content/2015.html
• Institution: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of socioeconomic factors on consumption of health-enhancing goods and services among different ethnicities of the elderly in Malaysia. The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III) comprising 4573 respondents (aged ≥ 60) is used for analysis. The results suggest that age, income, gender, education and location of residence are significantly associated with consumption of health-enhancing goods and services. Specifically, there are negative relationships between the likelihood of consuming health-enhancing goods and services and older individuals, lower income earners, males, the less-educated, and rural dwellers. Based on these findings, several intervention strategies toward promoting the consumption of health-enhancing goods and services are suggested.