Perception of the national health insurance scheme among artisans in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Artisans in the informal economic sector are least enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria despite their exposure to numerous health hazards. This study investigated artisan’s perception and utilization of the NHIS in Ido local government area, Ibadan, Oyo State. The study utilized a sequential mixed method approach. Data collection involved 15 in-depth interviews (IDI), and administration of survey questionnaires to 123 artisans.  Data were evaluated using thematic analysis and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The data revealed that 70.7% had knowledge about NHIS among artisans, albeit accompanied with low utilization (11.4%) of the scheme in the study area.  Thus, revealing that artisans’ awareness of the NHIS did not translate into its utilization due to reasons such as affordability, implicit cultural and religious restraints among others. However, given the right intervention, artisans may be willing to be enroll and utilize the scheme effectively.