Awareness and Interest in Community-Based Health Insurance Programme in Selected Rural Communities: A Mixed Methods Study

The imposition of Structural Adjustment Programmes on some developing countries in the 1980s, which necessitated cuts in social spending, contributed to the current healthcare challenges in these countries. The introduction of health insurance was intended to improve access to affordable healthcare; however, many people in the informal sector are not covered by the commonly adopted health insurance models. Community-based health insurance was recommended as a better alternative. This study was conducted to assess the awareness and interest in community-based health insurance in 11 selected rural communities in Kwara State, Nigeria. A mixed methods approach was adopted to obtain data for the study. Focus group discussions, questionnaires, and key informant and in-depth interviews were the methods of data collection. The respondents in this study are members of the selected communities, including religious and community leaders. The study found that awareness about community-based health insurance was high among the respondents. It also found that the involvement of community members and leaders in creating awareness is essential for the success of health policy programmes. Thus, to attain universal health coverage, it is recommended that policymakers secure buy-in from the people and work closely with community members who have already earned the people’s trust.