Enrollment in NHIS and access to healthcare: A case study of migrant female headporters at the Central Business District of Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
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Date
2015-04-21
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the female migrants‟ enrollment in NHIS and their
access to healthcare in the Kumasi Metropolis using a descriptive cross sectional study
design. A total of 665 migrant female headporters were selected using a snowballing
sampling method from Kejetia, Adum shopping centre, Kumasi Central Market, Bantama
market and Asafo market for this study. The study used questionnaire for collecting data.
The data were then analyzed using SPSS (version 16.0). It was realized from the study
that migrant female headporters had some level of knowledge about the NHIS and
majority of them heard about NHIS through radio advertisement from various FM
stations. The study found that not all migrant female headporters in the Kumasi
Metropolis were enrolled in NHIS and 17.4% of the non- subscribers had made up their
minds not to enroll in the scheme. Educational attainment and income levels were found
to influence enrollment in NHIS. The majority of migrant female headporters did not visit
health facility at their first sign of sickness and NHIS had increased access to healthcare
among the migrant female headporters in the Kumasi Metropolis. The major challenge
facing the migrant female headporters in accessing healthcare was financial factor. Some
of the migrant female headporters went to hospitals without their NHIS cards and
preferred to be treated under the “cash and carry” system. It is recommended that the
NHIS should intensify educational programmes on the scheme and its benefits among the
migrant female headporters. The NHIS should conduct free NHIS registration for all
migrant female headporters to enable them first appreciate and accept the actual benefits
of the scheme. The NHIS should work towards improving the healthcare under the
scheme.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Community Health
in partial fulfillment of the award of degree of Masters in
Public Health in Health Services Planning and Management.