Analysis of the role of health insurance schemes in health care services utilization in Tanzania: a case study of national health insurance fund

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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study set out to make analysis of the role of Health Insurance Schemes in utilization of health care services in Tanzania. The study collected primary data from Ilala and Temeke districts in Dar es Salaam region through administering a questionnaire to respondents. The theoretical model based on health demand theory by Grossman (1972), and an empirical model similar to the model used by Mwabu Ainsworth and Nyamete (2011) were used in this study whereby logit model was applied in estimations. The study reveals that the variables: gender, education, occupation and insurance were significant with positive correlation with health care services utilization, in the sense that females, who have completed secondary education and above, who are formally occupied and are members of NHIF scheme have a higher chance of utilizing more health care services. Age and marital status did not have much influence on utilization of health care services. The results of this study show that majority of members utilize health care services due to their enrollment of NHIF. The same members posed a lot of complaints on the services offered this can be an indicator of poverty in the sense that people would prefer something better in the health system but given their situations they have no alternative. The study recommends that; NHIF and accredited facilities should improve their services to cater for the needs of different groups of people.
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Keywords
Health insurance, Health insurence scheme, Health care services, Tanzania, National Health Insurance Fund
Citation
Mwamdanga, L (2011)Analysis of the role of health insurance schemes in health care services utilization in Tanzania: a case study of national health insurance fund, master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam (available athttp://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)