scholarly journals Assessment of satisfaction and utilization of health-care services by National Health Insurance Scheme enrolees at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abubakar Yusuf ◽  
Abubakar M. Jibo ◽  
Sanusi Abubakar ◽  
Bukar A. Grema ◽  
Auwal U. Gajida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Care Services

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) aims at universal health coverage through access to high-quality health-care to all enrolees. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to incorporate feedbacks from periodic patient-surveys into service improvement plans. This study therefore, assessed satisfaction and utilization of health-care services by enrolees of a Nigerian tertiary hospital. This was a crosssectional study of 399 respondents randomly selected from enrolees attending the NHIS-clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Using an intervieweradministered questionnaire, it assessed their sociodemographics, medical history, number of and reason for clinic visits, satisfaction with- access to care, patient-provider relationships and hospital facilities/environment. Respondents’ mean age was 38.3 ± 9.2 years and females accounted for 55.9% of respondents. Most respondents (60.4%, 69.8%, 96.0%) were satisfied with the ease of accessing care, waiting-time and hospital facilities/environment respectively. Most respondents (94.8%, 81.1%, 73.3%, 74.5%, 83.1%, 91.1%) were satisfied with their relationship with physicians, nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacists, record officers and other hospital-staff respectively. Overall, 80.5% of respondents were satisfied with the hospital’s services. All respondents had visited the clinic at least once in the preceding 12-weeks. Although 49.1% visited for non-communicable diseases, more respondents who were for antenatal-care (followed by non-communicable and communicable diseases) had had ≥ 2 clinic visits (c2 =15.5%, df=2, P=0.0001). This study observed a high utilization of and overallsatisfaction with the hospital’s services; however, there is a need for service improvement plans to address the challenges of patient access to care and waitingtime.

scholarly journals To: Plos One Knowledge, experiences and perceptions of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme in three districts

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sataru Fuseini ◽  
Seddoh Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Care Services

Background Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme is a demand side programme where the governing authority registers clients and purchases health care services for them from public and private providers. Access of services is high across a broad Benefits Package with no parallel enrolment necessary for any type of service at the point of access. Nonetheless, there is evidence of difficulty in acquiring and use of the NHIS card to access health care services. Objective While studies had been conducted into general awareness, there was no linkage between awareness, uptake and experiences with registration and use of the card. This study fills this gap. Methods This is a descriptive study. A mix of qualitative (39 Focus Group Discussions) and quantitative (625 household interviews) methods were used to collect the data. Qualitative data was analysed manually using a thematic approach while a frequency analysis was done for the quantitative data. Results Knowledge about the Scheme was near universal. Enrolment was lower among FGD discussants, 38.7% had valid cards, than for household respondents, 62.9% valid cards. While mixed experiences with the registration process was observed among FGD discussants, 74% of the households’ ranked attitudes of Scheme staff as positive. The study found the NHIS card facilitates access to facility based health care. Satisfaction levels with use of the card were mixed and contextual among discussants. However, 90% of households reported their cards were readily accepted at health facilities. Expired card (51.4%) and health facility had stopped accepting NHIS cards (14.3%) were mentioned as reasons for non-acceptance. Conclusion People’s experience during registration and use of the NHIS card to access health care has lasting effect on their perceptions of the Scheme. This can be harnessed to manage the high expectations, grow membership, discourage frivolous use and address artificial barriers of access.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Utilization of the National Health Insurance Scheme by Federal Civil Servants in Rivers State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110176
Author(s):  
Obelebra Adebiyi ◽  
Foluke Olukemi Adeniji
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Rivers State

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.

scholarly journals The shared experiences of insured members and the uninsured in health care access and utilization under Ghana’s national health insurance scheme: Evidence from the Hohoe Municipality

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244155
Author(s):  
Suraiya Umar ◽  
Adam Fusheini ◽  
Martin Amogre Ayanore
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Health

Background The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was introduced in Ghana in 2003 to remove financial barriers and to promote equitable access to health care services. Post implementation has been characterized by increases in access and utilization of services among the insured. The uninsured have been less likely to utilize services due to unaffordability of health care costs. In this study, we explored the experiences of the insured members of the NHIS, the uninsured and health professionals in accessing and utilizing health care services under the NHIS in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were held with twenty-five NHIS insured, twenty-five uninsured, and five health care professionals, who were randomly sampled from the Hohoe Municipality to collect data for this study. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants identified both enablers or motivating factors and barriers to health care services of the insured and uninsured. The major factors motivating members to access and use health care services were illness severity and symptom persistence. On the other hand, barriers identified included perceived poor service quality and lack of health insurance among the insured and uninsured respectively. Other barriers participants identified included financial constraints, poor attitudes of service providers, and prolonged waiting time. However, the level of care received were reportedly about the same among the insured and uninsured with access to quality health care much dependent on ability to pay, which favors the rich and thereby creating inequity in accessing the needed quality care services. Conclusion The implication of the financial barriers to health care access identified is that the poor and uninsured still suffer from health care access challenges, which questions the efficiency and core goal of the NHIS in removing financial barrier to health care access. This has the potential of undermining Ghana’s ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 of universal health coverage by the year 2030.

scholarly journals Ghana’s Journey towards Universal Health Coverage: The Role of the National Health Insurance Scheme

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kipo-Sunyehzi ◽  
Amogre Ayanore ◽  
Dzidzonu ◽  
Ayalsuma Yakubu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Universal Health

: Background: the main aim of the study is to find if the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana is achieving universal health coverage (UHC) or not. The study gives the trajectories of health policies in Ghana and their implications on long term health financing. NHIS in Ghana was implemented in 2004, with the aim of increasing subscribers’ access to health care services and reduce financial barriers to health care. On equity access to healthcare, it addresses two core concerns: (1) enrolling particular groups (persons exempted from annual premium payments) and (2) achieving UHC for all citizens and persons with legal residence. It utilizes a multifactor approach to the conceptualization of UHC. The research question: is Ghana’s NHIS on course to deliver or achieve universal health coverage? Methods: we used qualitative methods. In doing so, the study engaged participants in in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations of participants in their natural settings, like hospitals, clinics, offices and homes, with purposive and snowball techniques. This data triangulation approach aims to increase the reliability and validity of findings. Results: the empirical evidence shows NHIS performed relatively well in enrolling more exempt groups (particular groups) than enrolling all persons in Ghana (UHC). The biggest challenge for the implementation of NHIS from the perspectives of health insurance officials is inadequate funding. The health insurance beneficiaries complained of delays during registrations and renewals. They also complained of poor attitude of some health insurance officials and health workers at facilities. Conclusions: both health insurance officials and beneficiaries emphasized the need for increased public education and for implementers to adopt a friendly attitude towards clients. To move towards achieving UHC, there is a need to redesign the policy, to move it from current voluntary contributions, to adopt a broad tax-based approach to cover all citizens and persons with legal residence in Ghana. Also, to adopt a flexible premium payment system (specifically ‘payments by installation’ or ‘part payments’) and widen the scope of exempt groups as a way of enrolling more into the NHIS.

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