The Effect of Health Insurance on Healthcare Access in Pregnant Women: Case Study of Mengo Hospital

Abstract

Uganda’s maternal mortality rate is 336 deaths per 100.000 live births, making it among the highest in Africa and this is partly due to lack of access to maternal health care. Although health insurance is said to improve maternal healthcare access, it has partially been embraced in Uganda. This study sought to investigate the effect of health insurance on access to healthcare for pregnant women in Uganda. Secondary data from Mengo Hospital Maternity Department on pregnant women was used. Bivariate and Ordinary Least Squares regression techniques were used during the analysis. The results revealed that health insurance increases the access to healthcare for pregnant women in Uganda. Employment, education and residence also had a significant effect on access of healthcare for pregnant women. It is therefore recommended that the Government designs strategies to increase health insurance uptake in order to increase access to healthcare for pregnant women. Health insurance coverage should also be extended to the rural areas to increase access to healthcare. Furthermore, women should be encouraged to pursue education to at least the secondary level since both employment and education improve their use of maternal healthcare services.