OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA
Health care expenses in Nigeria are done mainly through Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. Women irrespective of their age, status and location have need for medical care and this creates a burden on their expenses due to OOP medical expenses. This study therefore, examines the implications of healthcar...
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| Language: | English |
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Federal University Wukari
2024-07-01
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| Series: | International Studies Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/383 |
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| author | IJEOMA J. OGU IJOEMA IGWE NGOZI I’ ARONU LIM, MOSES MSUGHTER OSITA KINGSLEY ODO |
| author_facet | IJEOMA J. OGU IJOEMA IGWE NGOZI I’ ARONU LIM, MOSES MSUGHTER OSITA KINGSLEY ODO |
| author_sort | IJEOMA J. OGU |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Health care expenses in Nigeria are done mainly through Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. Women irrespective of their age, status and location have need for medical care and this creates a burden on their expenses due to OOP medical expenses. This study therefore, examines the implications of healthcare payment through OOP medical expenses on the health status of women in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted in Nsukka LGA and Enugu urban both in South – East Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected from 522 female respondents through structured questionnaire. The result shows that women irrespective of their place of residence are aware of health insurance scheme (p<0.00) and utilization of health insurance (0.00). There is also a significant relationship between employment status and encountering the challenge of paying for medical treatment due to cost of healthcare (p< 0.01). Furthermore, women in spite of their locality indulge in self-medication (p<0.00), patronize patent medicine dealers (p< 0.00) and roadside herbal medicine dealers (p< 0.00). The study concludes thatthe reliance on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services, particularly among uninsured women in Enugu State, Nigeria, has significant implications for their health status. This practice introduces financial barriers that may result in delayed or forgone care, leading to self-medication, utilization of informal healthcare providers, and ultimately, adverse health outcomes. Moreover, the regressive nature of these expenditures exacerbates disparities, disproportionately affecting women, female-headed households, and the poor. To address these challenges, policymakers are urged to consider universal health insurance coverage and reforms in the healthcare sector to alleviate financial burdens and promote healthcare equity.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d08118ef38614025afb836937d055e17 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2756-4649 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Federal University Wukari |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Studies Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-d08118ef38614025afb836937d055e172025-02-10T10:00:17ZengFederal University WukariInternational Studies Journal2756-46492024-07-0184OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIAIJEOMA J. OGU0IJOEMA IGWE1NGOZI I’ ARONU2LIM, MOSES MSUGHTER3OSITA KINGSLEY ODO4UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKAUNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKAUNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKAFEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSIN-MA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIARUHR UNIVERSITY BOCHUM, GERMANY Health care expenses in Nigeria are done mainly through Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses. Women irrespective of their age, status and location have need for medical care and this creates a burden on their expenses due to OOP medical expenses. This study therefore, examines the implications of healthcare payment through OOP medical expenses on the health status of women in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted in Nsukka LGA and Enugu urban both in South – East Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected from 522 female respondents through structured questionnaire. The result shows that women irrespective of their place of residence are aware of health insurance scheme (p<0.00) and utilization of health insurance (0.00). There is also a significant relationship between employment status and encountering the challenge of paying for medical treatment due to cost of healthcare (p< 0.01). Furthermore, women in spite of their locality indulge in self-medication (p<0.00), patronize patent medicine dealers (p< 0.00) and roadside herbal medicine dealers (p< 0.00). The study concludes thatthe reliance on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services, particularly among uninsured women in Enugu State, Nigeria, has significant implications for their health status. This practice introduces financial barriers that may result in delayed or forgone care, leading to self-medication, utilization of informal healthcare providers, and ultimately, adverse health outcomes. Moreover, the regressive nature of these expenditures exacerbates disparities, disproportionately affecting women, female-headed households, and the poor. To address these challenges, policymakers are urged to consider universal health insurance coverage and reforms in the healthcare sector to alleviate financial burdens and promote healthcare equity. https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/383WomenOut-of-pockethealthcareEnugu StateSouth-East Nigeriamedical bill |
| spellingShingle | IJEOMA J. OGU IJOEMA IGWE NGOZI I’ ARONU LIM, MOSES MSUGHTER OSITA KINGSLEY ODO OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA International Studies Journal Women Out-of-pocket healthcare Enugu State South-East Nigeria medical bill |
| title | OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA |
| title_full | OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA |
| title_fullStr | OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA |
| title_full_unstemmed | OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA |
| title_short | OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT ON HEALTHCARE: IMPLICATION ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA |
| title_sort | out of pocket payment on healthcare implication on the health status of women in enugu state south east nigeria |
| topic | Women Out-of-pocket healthcare Enugu State South-East Nigeria medical bill |
| url | https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/383 |
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