Analysis of National Health Insurance Holders Choice of a Preferred Primary Healthcare Provider in Ho Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

This paper examines factors National Health Insurance holders consider in selecting their primary healthcare providers in Ho Municipality. The general purpose of the study is to bring to light the leading factors that influence a patient’s choice of a healthcare provider, specifically, the study assesses the distribution of insurance holder’s selection of healthcare providers, examines insurance holder’s choice of a healthcare provider across age line, determines salient factors that influence choice of a healthcare provider and investigates gender perception on indicator variables that influence choice of a healthcare provider. The research used cross-sectional design and multi-stage sampling technique to collect data on 400 sampled NHIS insurance holders with age 18 years and above. Preliminary analysis was used to explore the demographic characteristics of the study unit, Man Whitney U test was used to compare gender views on indicator variables while chi –square test and factor analysis were used to compare choice of a healthcare provider across age group and salient factors that insurance holders consider in selecting their primary healthcare providers respectively. Results from the study indicate that majority of the insurance holders select or will select Municipal hospital as their primary care provider, and thus 70.5% of the time appreciates the introduction of the capitation policy. The study revealed four factors that insurance holders consider in selecting their primary care providers as; hospital service delivery, customer care and prestige, distance and family and peer influence factors. The study further shows that an insurance holders’ choice of primary care provider is dependent on age. In order for healthcare providers to provide quality healthcare, it is suggested that NHIS should ensure timely discharge of funds whiles Ghana Health Service also should consider providing more medical equipment and manpower to healthcare provider’s especially in the Municipal hospital since it seems to be the preference for patients thus  the largest patient base.