International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

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Assessing the Influence of Nhima on Healthcare Access for Marginalized Community of Lusaka’S Bauleni Compound

Author(s) Ms. Keresia Taranhike, Mr. Edward Rogers Tembo
Country Zambia
Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) on healthcare access for marginalized communities, specifically women and children, in Lusaka's Bauleni Compound. The research examined the relationship between NHIMA health insurance coverage and healthcare access, assessed the effectiveness of NHIMA in improving access, and identified key factors underpinning its effectiveness.
Using a cross-sectional design, 230 residents of Bauleni were surveyed through structured questionnaires focusing on demographic characteristics and experiences with NHIMA services. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while chi-square tests, ordinal logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression were employed to examine associations between NHIMA enrolment and healthcare access.
The results indicated that 54.6% of respondents were enrolled in NHIMA. NHIMA enrolment significantly increased healthcare visits, with a higher proportion of enrolled individuals (56.0%) visiting healthcare facilities 1-2 times in the past year compared to non-enrolled individuals (35.1%) (χ² = 42.061, p < 0.001).
This study highlights the positive role of NHIMA in enhancing healthcare access in Bauleni, particularly in increasing service utilization among insured individuals. However, barriers such as lack of information and financial constraints hindered full utilization of NHIMA services. The findings suggest that improving NHIMA awareness campaigns, simplifying the enrolment process, and enhancing service quality at affiliated facilities could lead to increased healthcare access among marginalized populations.
Policy implications include the need for targeted interventions that address financial and informational barriers to NHIMA enrolment and access. Policy reforms should focus on expanding NHIMA’s coverage and improving the delivery of healthcare services to ensure that marginalized groups, particularly women and children, benefit fully from the national insurance scheme.
Keywords National Health Insurance Management Authority, Healthcare Access, Marginalized Communities, Bauleni Compound, Cross-Sectional Study, Chi-square Tests, Ordinal Logistic Regression, Multinomial Logistic Regression.
Field Sociology > Health
Published In Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On 2025-06-25
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.49069
Short DOI https://doi.org/g9rsmt

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