Health insurance ownership and maternal health service uptake among Nigerian women

Abstract

Studies conducted in Nigeria have shown that health insurance coverage for maternal care improves maternal care utilization. However, no previous Nigerian study has explored the effects which the various maternal healthcare services, covered by health insurance policy, have on the particular maternal healthcare and others. This study utilized secondary data from the most recent National Demographic and Health Survey for Nigeria to examine the effects of health insurance enrolment on broad range of maternal healthcare services. The outcome variables were early antenatal care visits, a minimum of four antenatal care contacts, place of delivery and postnatal care for a child within two months of delivery. The key explanatory variables were the various maternal healthcare services covered by health insurance. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the determinants of the various maternal health outcomes while controlling for potentially confounding variables. Health insurance coverage rate among Nigerian women was 2.1% with significant social disparity. The findings from the multivariate logistic regression showed that health insurance for antenatal care significantly increases the chances to make early antenatal care contacts; a minimum of four antenatal care contacts and postnatal care for a child. Having health insurance coverage for delivery care is associated with higher odds for delivery in health facilities. Health insurance policy with cash benefits is associated with increased odds for the various maternal healthcare services. We suggest that more studies be conducted to assess the progress in maternal care utilization, facilitated through health insurance programme