Socioeconomic inequality in financial hardship in accessing quality healthcare services in Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

This study revealed that there was significant inequality in financial hardship of health expenditure across household wealth categories. The incidences of CHE and IHE were higher. The wealth status of the household, insurance status, marital status of the household head, chronic illness, and seeking traditional healthcare were the key determinant factors of CHE. Therefore, policymakers should focus on underprivileged households to ensure effective healthcare financial risk protection (FRP).