Access to Maternal Healthcare Services under the National Health Insurance Policy in the Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract

Health insurance coverage provides the spring board for pregnant women to access and utilise maternal healthcare services. Yet, studies on health insurance coverage, access and utilisation of maternal healthcare are a handful. Consequently, this study examines women's access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services under the free maternal health policy in two districts in northern Ghana. The study adopted the mixed research approach with the aid of the cross-sectional design involving 212 respondents. An interview schedule was utilised in the collection of data. Percentages, Chi-square test for independence and Mann-Whitney U test as well as thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that 93.9% of the respondents had enrolled unto the national health insurance scheme and 98.6% of them went for antennal care. Majority (66.5%) of them had facilitybased delivery. However, 79.7% of them incur cost in seeking delivery care. In brief, health insurance coverage appears to contribute to improved access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services in the two districts. Nonetheless, the government should provide the basic items that are needed for delivery to lessen the cost burden associated with facility-based delivery.

Towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3: multilevel analyses of demographic and health survey data on health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Studies conducted at various country levels in SSA have shown that health insurance improves ANC attendance 17 , skilled delivery 18 , 19 and PNC among women of reproductive age. 1 , 20 There is, however, a paucity of empirical literature at the subregional level on the influence of health insurance coverage on maternal healthcare utilisation.…”

Health insurance support on maternal health care: evidence from survey data in India

“…Similarly, several other studies have found that the health insurance coverage increased the probability of having the recommended number of prenatal visits [19][20][21]. Studies in countries like Ghana, Indonesia, and Rwanda, have found a significant positive impact of health insurance on maternal health outcomes [22,23].…”

“…But the role of health financing has been a challenging one to examine. It is a well-accepted fact now that health health insurance plays a significant role in improving the financial protection and utilization of maternal healthcare system [16][17][18][22][23][24]26,[44][45][46]. But studying it in maternal health outcomes is challenging.…”

“…Since the investment done in this context is inadequate. Thus, there has been a growing concern for executing health insurance, which can have a significant positive effect on maternal health status [22]. Adequate financing through insurance can cover the costs and also provide the means for averting early maternal health risks.…”

Health Insurance Support on Maternal Health Care: Evidence from Survey Data in India

“…Similarly, several other studies have found that the health insurance coverage increased the probability of having the recommended number of prenatal visits [19– 21]. Studies in countries like Ghana, Indonesia, and Rwanda, have found a significant positive impact of health insurance on maternal health outcomes [22,23]. Health insurance coverage lowers the risk of maternal deaths due to adequate health care financing.…”