Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40051539›Full record

ArticleBMJ public health2025

Patterns and factors associated with healthcare utilisation in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study based on the World Health Survey Plus 2023.

Srean Chhim, Paul Kowal, Chamnab Ngor, Sereyraksmey Long, Poppy Walton, Khin Thiri Maung, Grace Marie Ku, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Nawi Ng, Por Ir and 2 more

Abstract read
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Article in BMJ public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Srean ChhimSchool of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.ORCID 0000-0003-1558-1875
Paul KowalNational Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Chamnab NgorSchool of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sereyraksmey LongSchool of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Poppy WaltonHelpAge International, London, UK.
Khin Thiri MaungSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Grace Marie KuInstitute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Kerstin Klipstein-GrobuschJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nawi NgSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Por IrManagement team, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Chhorvann ChheaManagement team, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Heng SopheabSchool of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The Cambodian government aims to boost healthcare utilisation in public facilities and reduce the spending burden for disadvantaged households. This study aims to describe patterns of public and private outpatient and inpatient healthcare use and investigate the factors associated with public healthcare usage in Cambodia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all provinces in Cambodia, including the capital, Phnom Penh. The analysis included 4603 individuals aged ≥18 who had received care within the last 12 months. Results: Around 9% of outpatient and 50% of inpatient visits were made to public healthcare facilities. The number of outpatient visits made to public healthcare compared with private healthcare facilities was significantly higher in women (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.8), living in rural settings (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.7), those in the poorest (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2, 2.3) and poor (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.1) compared with the richest wealth quintiles, and respondents with insurance coverage (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6, 2.5). The number of inpatient visits made to public healthcare compared with private healthcare facilities was significantly higher in the poorest (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4, 3.9), poor (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5, 4.0) and middle (aOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5, 4.1) compared with those in the richest wealth quintiles and respondents with insurance coverage (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5, 3.2). Conclusion: Our study shows that private healthcare dominates outpatient services in Cambodia, while public healthcare is more significant for inpatient care. Individuals with low socioeconomic status and those with insurance showed higher public healthcare utilisation for outpatient and inpatient services, with women more likely to use public outpatient care. To progress towards universal health coverage, it is essential to improve public healthcare quality, especially in rural areas, expand service coverage and social health protection and develop strategies to engage the private sector.

Indexed as

Public HealthSecondary PreventionSociodemographic Factors

Identifiers

PMID40051539
PMCPMC11883872

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.