Effect of National Health Insurance Holding on the Choice of Health Facility for Childbirth in Ghana

Abstract

Maternal and child mortalities are among major health problems facing developing countries such as Ghana. Most of these deaths can be avoided by utilization of maternity health care services. The study examines the effect of health insurance holding and other socioeconomic and demographic factors on the choice of health facility for childbirth in Ghana. The study used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health survey. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics as well as a Multinomial Logistic Regression for identification of factors that influence delivery in health facility. The study results have shown that, holding of health insurance and wealth significantly influences expectant mother's decision to use government health facilities for childbirth. Also, the study revealed considerable variations in region and between rural and urban utilization of this services in Ghana. It is recommended that in order to improve the utilization of health facility for childbirth services and hence maternal health care utilization, there is the need to improve public awareness and efforts should also be taking by policy makers to integrate the private sector properly into the National Health Insurance scheme. Policy should also target mothers who have had the experience of child birth on the need to use health care facility services for each pregnancy. The government and other service providers (NGOs, religious institutions and private providers) may endeavor to improve on the distribution of health facilities, human resources, good roads and necessary infrastructure among other things in order to facilitate easy access to health care providers especially for rural dwellers.

Spatial Distribution and Associated Factors of Institutional Delivery Among Reproductive-Age Women (15-49 Years) in Ethiopia: The Case of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 Data

“…The odds of delivery at health facility among mothers who had the number of living children 2-4 were reduced by 52% as compared to those who had only one child. This nding is consistent with the study conducted in Pakistan and Rural Tanzania, This is due to that Women who deliver their rst child without any problem might think that they will not face the di culty of delivering their second baby and they may not also found a person who cares for their rst child to leave him at home while they go to the health institution for delivery [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38].…”

The Effect of Health Insurance on Institutional Delivery in Indonesia

“…The result is in line with previous studies. [11][12][13] Health insurance can overcome financial barrier that plays an important role in access to maternal health services. 10 The increase in institutional delivery through health insurance becomes important, considering that delivery at health facilities plays an important role to reduce maternal mortality.…”

“…10 The review was also supported by recent studies. [11][12][13] In Ghana, health insurance increases institutional delivery by 32.3%. 11 Another study also found that health insurance was a significant factor de-termining delivery at public health facilities and the ownership of health insurance during pregnancy tends to increase 2.5 times to deliver at health facilities.…”

“…11 Another study also found that health insurance was a significant factor de-termining delivery at public health facilities and the ownership of health insurance during pregnancy tends to increase 2.5 times to deliver at health facilities. 12 There were several types of health insurance in Indonesia before National Health Insurance (NHI) was implemented in 2014, which were Askes, Jamsostek, Jamkesmas, Jamkesda, private health insurance and health benefits from company. National Basic Health Research 2013 reported that 50.5% Indonesian citizens did not have health insurance.…”

Spatial Distribution and Associated Factors of Institutional Delivery among Reproductive-Age Women in Ethiopia: The Case of Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey

“…is finding is consistent with the study conducted in Pakistan and Rural Tanzania. e reason is that women who deliver their first child without any problem might think that they will not face difficulty in delivering their second baby and they may not also find a person who cares for their first child at home while they are at the health institution for delivery [21,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Communities with a high proportion of educated women had a 70% higher chance of institutional delivery as compared to communities with a low proportion of educated women.…”