Abstract:
This study was undertaken to examine the practices and challenges of community based health insurance: in Meta Welkite district West Shoa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. To conduct this study, descriptive type of research with mixed research approach was employed. The study was based on primary data collected from 145 household heads selected at random using schedule interview questionnaire. Additional information was also obtained from key informant and focus group discussion. The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and table. The study finding disclosed that respondents do have positive attitude towards Community Based Health Insurance scheme and its role in improving access to health care service, the scheme registration and enrollment procedure however they have negative attitude towards trust on scheme management. This finding also discovered the challenges of Community Based Health Insurance scheme such as inability to ensure a quality service delivery system, poor management of the scheme, lack of trust on the scheme; lack of fairness on indigent households’ in the study area. The study concluded that Community Based Health Insurance has turned out to be a useful financial tool to reduce the out of pocket money expenditure and enhancing access to health service for the households in the study area. Finally the study recommends that, attention should be given to the transparency of governance as well as strengthens institutional arrangements of the scheme and community participation and empowering the Community on management and decision making of the scheme; eliminating unfairness during indigent households’ selection and ensuring quality service delivery must be focused.
