Health profile and health insurance coverage among a defined rural population of Tumkur, Karnataka: A cross sectional study

Abstract

To study the health profile of the population under study 3. To assess the health insurance coverage and utilization patterns in the study population. Materials and Methods: It is a Cross - sectional study. This study was undertaken in the rural field practice area of Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, Karnataka .Six villages were chosen randomly. Multi stage sampling method was used. Sampling units were households. Oral questionnaire was used to collect the data and physiological parameters were measured. Results: According to this study 80% were Hindus, 15% were Muslims, 5% Christians.57% of the families belonged to OBC (other backward castes). Average family size: = 3.5409 (SD±1.1861) Anaemia was present in 64.9% of the population. Major recent illness were URTI 53%, head ache 12% and myalgia 9%. Health insurance coverage is 20% in the study area. Conclusion: The major illnesses in the population were anaemia 65%, 58% had dental caries, hypertension was 24%, 15% of them had diabetes mellitus. Health insurance coverage was around 20%. Majority of the households( 93%) were not aware about any health insurance schemes Only 13% of the insured were aware about the benefits of health insurance scheme and 8% of those who insured utilised the health insurance scheme benefits. Keywords: Health Profile, Universal Health Coverage, Rural Population, India, Health Insurance.