Abstract:
Background: The Ethiopian government has introduced social health insurance to improve access to quality health services. However, there is no information about the willingness to pay for social health insurance among government employees in the study area. Therefore, this study is intended to evaluate the willingness to pay for social health insurance and associated factors among government employees
Objective: - To assess the willingness to pay for the social health insurance and associated factors among government employees in Dendi district, west Shoa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study supported by qualitative data was conducted from October 20 to November 25, 2023 among 386 study participants who were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were gathered using structured questionnaire interviews. The collected data were entered into EPI info 7 and analyzed by SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were described by using mean, standard deviation, percentage, frequency table and graphs. Bi- variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between the dependent and independent variables. Then, the independent variables with P value <
0.25 were entered into multivariable logistic regression to control the cofounders, and statistical significance was declared at p< 0.05.
Results: The interview was completed by 386 participants, with 100 % of response rate. The majority 91.7% (95% CI: 88.5- 94.3) of the study participants were willing to pay for social health insurance .But only 5.4 % were willing to pay the proposed premium (3% of their monthly salary). Participants who were married [AOR: 2.57; 95% CI (1.03-6.39)], current profession were Finance, Admine [AOR: 3.09; 95%CI (1.03-9.24)], Chronic disease in the family [AOR: 4.1; 95%CI (1.18- 14.25)] & knowledge about health insurance [AOR: 2.99; 95%CI (1.34-6.66)] were significantly associated factors. In qualitative part, a majority of focus group discussion participants were not willing to pay every month.
Conclusion and recommendation:-Majority participants were willing to pay for social health insurance. Participants who were married, current profession were Finance and Admine, chronic disease in the family & knowledge about health insurance were significantly associated factors. However, for the strategy to be implemented successfully, sufficient awareness-raising and dialogue should be held with all employees at different levels; because they were less willing to pay the proposed amount.
