Abstract
The concept of health security has aroused several interpretations because of theoretical technique indifferences or academic methodology. The focus has been on human security, old age health security (OAHS), whereas there remain issues of low healthcare utilization by older people from rural Ghana while there are social assistance programs. The study aimed at investigating the mediating effect of healthcare utilization on Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) and old age health security OAHS. With purposive sampling technique, participants were selected to participate in the study with standardized quantitative questionnaire to measure the variables involved in the study and a regression technique to analyze the data. The result of the mediation analysis showed a partial mediation between LEAP and Healthcare Utilization (HU) was found to have bridged the gap between the LEAP and OAHS. The LEAP policy also caused an increase in Health Utilization and, subsequently, an increase in old age health security (OAHS). The study is essential to help the National Health Insurance Authority NHIA in restructuring health care premiums to incite utilization of health facilities by the aged.
Highlights
The concept of health security has aroused several interpretations and conceptions because of indifferences in theoretical and academic approaches
The results show that respondents who were Divorced (β = 0.138, p < 0.01) and those who were married (β = 0.123, p < 0.01) are more likely to have health security at their old age compared to the respondents who were Unmarried
The study explores a model that unravels the mediation of healthcare utilization on the relationship between Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) and old age health security
Summary
The concept of health security has aroused several interpretations and conceptions because of indifferences in theoretical and academic approaches. The paradigm shift in 2001 linked health security notion to a global approach for ameliorating the transmission of contagious illness throughout national borders [1]. This has called for a pragmatic approach to ensure that individuals, the older population (above 60 years), are significantly cared for by instituting and implementing social policies that promote their health security. 2015 saw a total world population of 900 million old people aged 60 years and over and it is assumed to exceed 2 billion by the year 2050 [3]. As a result, seeking frequent health care services would be the only panacea for these health challenges, the need for health security in the form of social interventions for those who cannot afford it
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