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Health Seeking Behavior among Rural Left-Behind Children: Evidence from Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces in China

Author

Listed:
  • Hongyu Guan

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China)

  • Huan Wang

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China
    Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Juerong Huang

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China)

  • Kang Du

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China)

  • Jin Zhao

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China)

  • Matthew Boswell

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Yaojiang Shi

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China)

  • Mony Iyer

    (Onesight Foundation, 4000 Luxottica Pl, Mason, OH 45040, USA)

  • Scott Rozelle

    (Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710127, China
    Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

More than 60 million children in rural China are “left-behind”—both parents live and work far from their rural homes and leave their children behind. This paper explores differences in how left-behind and non-left-behind children seek health remediation in China’s vast but understudied rural areas. This study examines this question in the context of a program to provide vision health care to myopic rural students. The data come from a randomized controlled trial of 13,100 students in Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China. The results show that without a subsidy, uptake of health care services is low, even if individuals are provided with evidence of a potential problem (an eyeglasses prescription). Uptake rises two to three times when this information is paired with a subsidy voucher redeemable for a free pair of prescription eyeglasses. In fact, left-behind children who receive an eyeglasses voucher are not only more likely to redeem it, but also more likely to use the eyeglasses both in the short term and long term. In other words, in terms of uptake of care and compliance with treatment, the voucher program benefitted left-behind students more than non-left-behind students. The results provide a scientific understanding of differential impacts for guiding effective implementation of health policy to all groups in need in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongyu Guan & Huan Wang & Juerong Huang & Kang Du & Jin Zhao & Matthew Boswell & Yaojiang Shi & Mony Iyer & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Health Seeking Behavior among Rural Left-Behind Children: Evidence from Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:883-:d:143762
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Luo & Jiaojiao Zou & Meimei Ji & Tong Yuan & Mei Sun & Qian Lin, 2019. "Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among 3- to 5-Year-Olds Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Jin Zhao & Huan Wang & Hongyu Guan & Kang Du & Yunyun Zhang & Nathan Congdon, 2022. "Impact of Teacher Incentive Intervention on Students’ Vision Healthcare Uptake: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Lingling Zheng & Junlian Tan & Rongjiao Liu & Xueru Yang & Huiling He & Huiming Xiao & Liwen He, 2019. "The Impact of Primary Treatment on Post-Traumatic Endophthalmitis in Children with Open Globe Injuries: A Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-6, August.
    4. Jason Hung, 2023. "Policy-Oriented Examination of Left-Behind Children’s Health and Well-Being in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Hongyu Guan & Huan Wang & Kang Du & Jin Zhao & Matthew Boswell & Yaojiang Shi & Yiwei Qian, 2018. "The Effect of Providing Free Eyeglasses on Children’s Mental Health Outcomes in China: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, December.

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