An assessment of the practice of out-of-pocket health expenditures and its effects on access to health care among heads of households in gwagwalada area council, abuja nigeria

Yalma RM; Ajefu RA

doi:10.46795/ijhcbs.v6i2.720

Yalma RM Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of clinical Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria
Ajefu RA Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of clinical Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria

DOI https://doi.org/10.46795/ijhcbs.v6i2.720

Abstract

Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure remains the dominant form of healthcare financing in Nigeria, despite global efforts toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). High OOP spending can delay care, reduce access, and push households into poverty. This study assessed the practice of catastrophic OOP healthcare expenditure among heads of households in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 255 heads of households using cluster sampling technique. Data were collected through structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS version 21, with significance set at p<0.05. Most respondents were male (86.3%), married (63.9%), and had tertiary education (44.3%). Only 32.5% were enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme.OOP expenditure is a major barrier to equitable healthcare access in Gwagwalada and enrolment in health insurance schemes remains low. Strategic health financing reforms and improved insurance coverage are crucial to reduce financial hardship and enhance health service utilization.

Keywords: Out-of-pocket expenditure, health care financing, catastrophic health expenditure, national health insurance scheme (NHIS), health insurance enrolment, universal health coverage (UHC)

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