scholarly journals Relationship between Health Insurance Status and the Pattern of Traditional Medicine Utilisation in Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razak Mohammed Gyasi

This paper examines the relationship between national health insurance status and the pattern of traditional medicine (TRM) use among the general population in Ghana. A retrospective cross-sectional survey of randomly sampled adults, aged ≥18 years (N=324), was conducted. The results indicate that TRM use was high with prevalence of over 86%. The study found no statistically significant association between national health insurance status and TRM utilisation (P>0.05). Paradoxically, major sources of TRM, frequency of TRM use, comedical administration, and disclosure of TRM use to health care professionals differed significantly between the insured and uninsured subgroups (P<0.001). Whereas effectiveness of TRM predicted its use for both insured [odds ratio (OR) = 4.374 (confidence interval (CI): 1.753–10.913;P=0.002)] and uninsured [OR = 3.383 CI: 0.869–13.170;P=0.039)], work experience predicted TRM use for the insured [OR = 1.528 (95% CI: 1.309–1.900;P=0.019)]. Cultural specific variables and health philosophies rather than health insurance status may influence health care-seeking behaviour and TRM use. The enrollment of herbal-based therapies on the national health insurance medicine plan is exigent to ensure monitoring and rational use of TRM towards intercultural health care system in Ghana.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.H. Mabuza ◽  
G.A. Ogunbanjo ◽  
K.E. Hlabyago ◽  
M. Mogotsi

Background: In 2012, the National Department of Health of South Africa launched the National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot program in 11 districts, towards universal health coverage for all South Africans. Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) are important role-players in its implementation. We decided to evaluate to what extent the HCPs were aware of the NHI program after three years of the pilot phase. Objective: To evaluate the awareness of HCPs about the NHI in the pilot Tshwane district of South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1753 HCPs in Tshwane district. At 95% confidence level and 5% error margin, the sample size was 315 HCPs, but we over-sampled to 480. The study was conducted in 25 health facilities within the district. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used. Results: A high proportion of HCPs were unaware of the objectives of the NHI program (p < 0.001); number of NHI pilot sites [(281; 59.4%) versus (145; 30.7%), p < 0.001]; rationale used to select pilot sites [(223; 46.9%) versus (193; 40.5%), p = 0.047]; role of the Integrated School Health Services (ISHP) [(250; 52.7%) versus (70; 14.8%), p < 0.001]; and specialists constituting the District Clinical Specialist Team (DCST) (p < 0.001). However, awareness regarding the Ward-Based Outreach Team (WBOT) leader was high [(236; 49.9%) versus (135; 28.5%), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: HCPs in Tshwane district demonstrated poor awareness of the NHI. This reveals that any awareness effort towards the NHI has not taken effect among the HCPs in this district.


Sci ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Jesse Patrick ◽  
Philip Q. Yang

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is at the crossroads. It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACA in order to make rational decisions about the ongoing healthcare reform, but existing research into its effect on health insurance status in the United States is insufficient and descriptive. Using data from the National Health Interview Surveys from 2009 to 2015, this study examines changes in health insurance status and its determinants before the ACA in 2009, during its partial implementation in 2010–2013, and after its full implementation in 2014 and 2015. The results of trend analysis indicate a significant increase in national health insurance rate from 82.2% in 2009 to 89.4% in 2015. Logistic regression analyses confirm the similar impact of age, gender, race, marital status, nativity, citizenship, education, and poverty on health insurance status before and after the ACA. Despite similar effects across years, controlling for other variables, youth aged 26 or below, the foreign-born, Asians, and other races had a greater probability of gaining health insurance after the ACA than before the ACA; however, the odds of obtaining health insurance for Hispanics and the impoverished rose slightly during the partial implementation of the ACA, but somewhat declined after the full implementation of the ACA starting in 2014. These findings should be taken into account by the U.S. Government in deciding the fate of the ACA.


Author(s):  
Obelebra Adebiyi ◽  
Foluke Olukemi Adeniji

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) of Nigeria was established in 2005. This study assessed the utilization of health care and associated factors amongst the federal civil servants using the NHIS in Rivers state. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. Data were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. A Chi-square test was carried out. The level of Confidence was set at 95%, and the P-value ≤ .05. Out of a total of 334 respondents, 280 (83.8%) were enrolled for NHIS, 203 (72.5%) utilized the services of the scheme. Most 181 (82.1%) of the respondents who utilized visited the facility at least once in the preceding year. Although, 123 (43.9%) of the respondents made payments at a point of access to health care services, overall there was a reduction in out of pocket payment. Possession of NHIS card, the attitude of health workers, and patients’ satisfaction were found to significantly affect utilization P ≤ .05. Regression analysis shows age and income to be a predictor of utilization of the NHIS. Though utilization is high, effort should be made to remove payment at the point of access and improving the harsh attitude of some of the health workers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352098147
Author(s):  
Temitope Esther Olamuyiwa ◽  
Foluke Olukemi Adeniji

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is a commonly used indicator for measuring the quality of health care. This study assessed patients’ satisfaction with the quality of care at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) clinic in a tertiary facility. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 379 systematically selected participants completed an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Bivariate analysis was performed using Pearson χ2 with a P value set at ≤ .05. Results: The study found out that about half (193, 50.9%) of the respondents were satisfied with the availability of structure. Patients were not satisfied with waiting time in the medical records, account, laboratory, and pharmacy sections. Overall, 286 (75.5%) of the respondents were satisfied with the outcome of health care provided at the NHIS clinic. A statistically significant association ( P = .00) was observed between treatment outcome and patient satisfaction. Conclusion: There is a need to address structural deficiencies and time management at the clinic.


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