Promoting universal financial protection: a study assessing the effects of knowledge and perception towards enrolment in health insurance schemes among clienteles using tertiary health services

Abstract

Objective: To assess the evidence of the effects of knowledge and perception of health insurance on the willingness to enrol and utilize health insurance among clienteles using tertiary health services.

Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The instrument was a pre tested, semi-structured self administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics as well as chi-square test and regression analysis were done to show statistically significant associations.

Results: The findings reveal that majority of the respondents had heard about health insurance at 275(78.6%), a significant number at 265(75.7%) had the right understanding of what it is; with the electronic and print media accounting for the major source of knowledge of health insurance at 85(24.3%) and 117(33.4%) respectively. Notwithstanding, most of the respondents 202(57.7%) felt that their current knowledge of health insurance is still very limited of such scheme(s) and as such affects their interest in enrolling in a scheme. Statistically significant association between the level of knowledge and the willingness to enrol in an insurance scheme feeling that they need more information on health insurance and the willingness to enrol in a health insurance scheme was shown (X2= 6.689, df= 1, p-value= 0.01). Accordingly, most respondents were willing to enrol and utilize the benefits of different types of health insurance services.

Conclusion: The findings from this study has brought to the fore the relationship(s) between knowledge and perception of clients using health services and the effect(s) on their desire and willingness to participate in health insurance schemes. Still, there are concerns that necessitate wide spread advocacy for health insurance.

Keywords: Health insurance, Knowledge, Perception, Enrolment, Nigeria