Utilization of National Health Insurance Scheme Among Healthcare Professionals in Federal Medical Centre Asaba Delta State

Abstract

The difficulties encountered in out of pocket financing of healthcare have compelled the introduction of prepaid health insurance in many countries, including Nigeria. This is borne out of a universal and equitable healthcare cover as a fundamental human right. This study assessed the utilization of the National Health Insurance Scheme among healthcare professionals in Federal Medical Centre Asaba. Descriptive cross sectional survey design was used. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A sample size of 271 respondents who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. A pilot study was carried out with a reliability index of 0.86 after face and content validation. Frequencies, percentages and chi-square were used for descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents (92.3%) registered with NHIS. A greater proportion of the healthcare professionals have utilized the scheme. Higher level of education was found to be significantly associated with utilization of NHIS. Conversely, no association was found between healthcare professionals’ gender and their utilization of NHIS. Findings revealed a high rate of utilization of the NHIS among respondents that were enrolled and a reduction in out of pocket payment for healthcare under the NHIS. Based on the above, healthcare providers should be subjected to seminars and workshops to enlighten them on the importance of enrolling with the scheme. Intensified campaigns should emphasize on the objective, and benefits of the scheme, using the mass media as a way of reaching a vast majority of the workforce.