Practices, Challenges and Perceptions Toward Community Based Health Insurance in Meta Robi District, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Community Based Health Insurance scheme (CBHI) in Ethiopia initiated to promote healthcare access, quality of services and reduce out of pocket payment. The purpose of this study is to assess the practices, challenges and perceptions towards community based health insurance in Meta Robi district. A descriptive research design, which involved quantitative and qualitative research approach was employed. The study is based on primary data collected from 145 sample selected at random using questionnaire. The primary data was also obtained from key informant interview. The collected data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Version 23 statistical software. A descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to summarize the data collected on practices, challenges and perceptions towards community based health insurance in Meta Robi district. The result of the study revealed that the practices of the community based health insurance in the Meta Robi district were awareness raising how the community based health insurance works, providing health services, renewing membership identity card timely, and improving the health status of the CBHI members. However, local meetings were not done as expected and there was no indigent policy by community based health insurance programs. The findings also indicated the major challenges affecting the implementation of community based health insurance were poor quality service of community based health insurance, shortage of medicines, absence of the nearest hospital in the woreda, lack of skilled manpower assigned for the CBHI, lack of concern and commitment from the concerned body and the health institution, lack of ambulance service. The findings also confirmed perceptions towards community based health insurance in Meta Robi district. Accordingly, households have positive attitude towards community based health insurance. They perceived as CBHI benefit packages are adequate enough to meet health care needs of households, community based health insurance management is trust worthy and as health insurance is important to financial security. However, some respondents perceived the current premium level as it was not satisfactory. The study concluded that the CBHI has vital contribution health status of the community. It is recommended that, awareness creation, and capacity building plays a crucial role in improving community based health insurance in the study area..