Insure them and improve their welfare: effect of Hygeia Community Health Insurance on households’ welfare in Kwara State, Nigeria

Raphael Babatunde,Adeyemi Omoniwa,Oluwafemi Oyedeji

doi:10.14720/aas.2019.113.1.01

Abstract

The Hygeia Community Health Plan was designed such that agriculture-based households can have access to affordable healthcare services. It is also aimed at providing financial risk protection against catastrophic healthcare costs which if persistent, could possibly drive them into poverty. This paper used a well-structured questionnaire to solicit responses on the effect of the Hygeia Community Health Plan on the welfare of farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to sample 175 farming households comprising of 115 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries from Shonga, Bacita and Lafiagi districts of Edu local government area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The ordinary least square and logit model were used in the analysis of the data for this study. The results of the analysis showed that the Hygeia community health plan was positively and statistically significant in influencing the per capita income, per capita calorie intake and the food security status of farming households in the area. Therefore, it was recommended that the government should create an enabling environment or partner with private insurance organizations. This will help them work out a plan to help rural households in other parts of the country access affordable healthcare services easily. This will help in the attainment of the universal access to health services in Kwara State and country Nigeria at large.

Highlights

Farming households in Nigeria constitute over 70 per deprived of access to quality health facilities that are cent of the country’s rural population, most of which are essential for good living (Ajilowo, 2007)
This study examined the effects of the Hygeia community health plan on farming households’ welfare using the ordinary least square and the logit regression models
The major findings showed that the households that benefitted from the Hygeia community health plan had higher and significant per capita income, per capita calorie intake and were more food secured than those who did not

Summary

Introduction

Farming households in Nigeria constitute over 70 per deprived of access to quality health facilities that are cent of the country’s rural population, most of which are essential for good living (Ajilowo, 2007). The World Health Assembly in 1988 mandated provision of sound health for all people by 2000 as the main target for all governments (WHO, 1997). This is because sound health is a fundamental requirement for leading a socially and economically productive life. Many low-income countries have not been able to meet the basic healthcare needs of their people, especially those in the rural areas. The National health management information system is still weak, without an integrated system for disease surveillance, prevention and management (UNICEF, 2008)

Methods

Results

Conclusion