Health insurance status of female caregivers and its effect on the utilization of oral healthcare for children with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya

Masiga Mary Atieno,Wandibba Simiyu

doi:10.5348/d01-2017-27-oa-7

Abstract

Aims: Dental caries is a public health concern in many developing nations like Kenya. Slum children often do not have access to oral health care, and their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) remains largely un-researched topic in Kenya. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries and its impact on the OHRQoL of a cohort of slum-dwelling children in a Nairobi slum. Methods: This was a hospital-based mixed methods cross-sectional study carried out at the out-patient HIV-care clinics at Getrude Children’s hospital (GCH), Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Mbagathi County and Referral Hospital (MCRH) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study involved 221 female caregivers of children with HIV/AIDS and their health workers at the HIV-care clinics. Results: More than two-thirds (68%) of the respondents did not have any form of health insurance to facilitate access to medical and/or dental healthcare. More than three quarters (76%) of those who had utilized oral healthcare services for their children paid from out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. There was gross underutilization of the National Health Insurance Fund, NHIF, with only 18% of the respondents having been enrolled. Conclusion: Underutilization of social health insurance by caregivers, compounded by OOP spending for health services imposes limitations on the utilization of oral healthcare for children with HIV/AIDS.

Highlights

Dental visits are largely determined by the ability to pay for services
There is adequate empirical evidence to show that individuals with low socioeconomic status utilize dental services less often than those of higher socioeconomic status and incomes, especially for preventive care which is elective [1,2,3,4]
This paper reports on the health insurance status of female caregivers, and its effect on the utilization of oral healthcare for children with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Summary

Introduction

Dental visits are largely determined by the ability to pay for services. There is adequate empirical evidence to show that individuals with low socioeconomic status utilize dental services less often than those of higher socioeconomic status and incomes, especially for preventive care which is elective [1,2,3,4]. It is reported that, members of lower socioeconomic groups have poorer dental health than individuals belonging to more affluent groups [1, 4]. Miller and Locker [5] found that income and health insurance are important determinants of a person’s decision to visit a dentist over the course of the year; other factors being equal, the less affluent uninsured Other analysts have reported similar results [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion