Knowledge, Enrolment and Perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among Staff of a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Background: The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria was introduced to enhance the affordability and accessibility of healthcare, particularly for formal-sector employees. The study aimed to assess healthcare workers' knowledge and perceptions towards NHIS at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, using a structured questionnaire to collect the data. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The study population comprised 315 Health Care Workers (HCWs), with an average age of 40.04 years (SD = 10.21), ranging from 26 to 49 years. The study revealed a high level of NHIS awareness, 296 (94.0%), with hospital seminars, being the predominant source of information, 276 (93.2%). Most of the respondents, 193 (61%), had adequate knowledge of NHIS. Two hundred and seventy-seven (93.6%) enrolled in NHIS, and 225 (81.2%) had utilized the scheme in the last 6 months. Among those who utilized the scheme, 201 (72.0%) were satisfied with the quality of services The respondents' knowledge and perception of the NHIS were significantly associated with age (p=0.001) and cadre (p=0.001); older respondents and doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists had greater knowledge and more positive perceptions of the NHIS. Conclusion: Over four-fifths of the respondents were aware of NHIS, and two-thirds had adequate knowledge of it. Over half of the respondents utilized NHIS for paediatric problems and the respondents' perception of NHIS was largely positive. There should be NHIS education campaigns, and services offered by NHIS-accredited institutions need to be improved.

KEYWORDS: Knowledge, Perception, Health, Insurance, Scheme, NHIS