Factors Associated With Low Enrollment to Community Health Fund (CHF) in Mkuranga District- Pwani, Tanzania
- April 17, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Health Sciences, IJRSI
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705
Bertha Mwinuka1*, Mary J Chacha2
1Department of Health Systems Management, School of Public Administration and Management, Mzumbe University, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
2Department of Health Services, Mkuranga District Council, Pwani, United Republic of Tanzania
*Corresponding author
Abstract:-
Background: Despite the 15 years of promotion of Community Health Fund (CHF) in Tanzania, overall membership has remained low and this has led to an increase in mortality and morbidity due to unaffordability of health services.
Materials and methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional study. One hundred and thirty consenting were selected purposively and randomly and interview and questionnaires were used to collect the data to identify the major factors associated with CHF enrollment. Quantitative data were analyzed by using STATA and qualitative data were analyzed based on the major themes by a process of content analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant, at 95% confidence interval.
Results: Demographic factors, lack of CHF awareness, failure to understand the CHF benefits and poor attendance to CHF sensitization meetings were the factors associated with low CHF enrollment (p-value >0.05).Socio economic factors showed strong association with CHF enrollment. Unavailability of drugs (75%) and lack of training about CHF (100%) were the major challenges faced by health workers.
Conclusion: The strategies to improve CHF enrollment were political leaders’ involvement in community sensitization, district support to most vulnerable groups, health service quality improvement and conducting regular community sensitization.
Key words: Community Health Fund, enrollment, Mkuranga district council.
I. INTRODUCTION
About 1.3 billion people around the world are poor and lack access to effective and affordable health as a result of weaknesses in the financing and delivery of health care (World Bank, 2007;WHO, 2000; Dror & Firth, 2014). World Health Organization (WHO) health financing policy emphasizes that the health insurance as a financing strategy is a key determinant to population health and well-being (WHO, 2007).
