IMPACT OF COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH INSURANCE ON HEALTH SERVICE UTILIZATION IN GEDEBANO GUTAZER WOLENE WOREDA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This paper aimed to study the impact of community based health insurance in health care service utilization by reducing financial burden on members in Gedebano Gutazer Wolene Woreda , Gurage zone, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional household survey data both from community based health insurance members and non-members. The study used multi stage sampling teckique. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the presence of statistically significant associations between the enrollment in CBHI scheme and independent variables, association between CBHI and health care utilization and with health care expenditure, at a p-value <0.05 The fitness of the model using Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test was checked. After the logistic regression, family size, chronic disease, and awareness about CBHI are positively affecting the enrollment in CBHI but income is negatively affecting enrollment of household in CBHI. CBHI program increases the utilization of the household in health care service and reduces the out-of-pocket health care expenditure of members, other than non-members. Thus CBHI membership increases health service utilization and financial protection. CBHI proves to be an important strategy for promoting universal health coverage by protecting out of pocket health expenditure. Implementing CBHI in all woredas and increasing membership among households in woredas by increasing knowledge of households about CBHI, increasing service quality and health facility access for rural communities, that are alread implementing, CBHI will further expand its benefit.