Investigators at University of Lagos Have Reported New Data on Health Insurance (Determinants Of Impoverishment Due To Out Of Pocket Payments In…

Investigators at University of Lagos Have Reported New Data on Health Insurance (Determinants Of Impoverishment Due To Out Of Pocket Payments In Nigeria)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Fresh data on Health Insurance are presented in a new report. According to news originating from Lagos, Nigeria, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, "Poverty is an extreme consequence of out of pocket payments in countries with health systems that do not provide financial risk protection through mandatory health insurance coverage for people in both the formal and informal sectors. The study assessed the determinants of impoverishment due to out of pocket payments in Nigeria."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Lagos, "Secondary data from the Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) of 2009/10 was utilized to assess factors associated with impoverishment in Nigeria. Household and individual characteristics associated with impoverishment were determined using binary logistic regression. A significance level of p<0.05 was used. Results show that lack of health insurance, having a member above 65 years, large household size, household socio-economic status, type of illness suffered, type of health facility visited, geo-political zones, education of household heads and location were major determinants of impoverishment due to out of pocket health expenditure. Findings from the study show that most households and individuals are vulnerable to financial risk due to this regressive source of payments for health care services. This explains why the level of poverty keeps increasing in spite of the numerous poverty alleviation programs across the country. Policy makers and political actors need to design a new health system financing policy that will increase financial risk protection for people in both the formal and informal sectors."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Governments and decision makers have to focus on health as a determinant of economic well-being."

For more information on this research see: Determinants Of Impoverishment Due To Out Of Pocket Payments In Nigeria. Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, 2017;29(2):194-199 (see also Health Insurance).

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from B.S. Aregbeshola, Dept. of Community Health & Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria.

Keywords for this news article include: Lagos, Africa, Nigeria, Health Insurance, Investment and Finance.

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