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National health insurance, social influence and antenatal care use in Ghana

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  • Nkechi Owoo
  • Monica Lambon-Quayefio

Abstract

The study explores the importance of social influence and the availability of health insurance on maternal care utilization in Ghana through the use of antenatal care services. A number of studies have found that access to health insurance plays a critical role in women’s decision to utilize antenatal care services. However, little is known about the role that social forces play in this decision. This study uses village-level data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey to investigate the effects of health insurance and social influences on the intensity of antenatal care utilization by Ghanaian women. Using GIS information at the village level, we employ a spatial lag regression model in this study. Results indicate that, controlling for a host of socioeconomic and geographical factors, women who have health insurance appear to use more antenatal services than women who do not. In addition, the intensity of antenatal visits appears to be spatially correlated among the survey villages, implying that there may be some social influences that affect a woman’s decision to utilize antenatal care. A reason for this may be that women who benefit from antenatal care through positive pregnancy outcomes may pass this information along to their peers who also increase their use of these services in response. Traditional/Cultural leaders as “gate-keepers” may be useful in the dissemination of maternal health care information. Public health officials may also explore the possibility of disseminating information relating to maternal care services via the mass media. Copyright Owoo and Lambon-Quayefio; licensee Springer. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Nkechi Owoo & Monica Lambon-Quayefio, 2013. "National health insurance, social influence and antenatal care use in Ghana," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:hecrev:v:3:y:2013:i:1:p:1-12:10.1186/2191-1991-3-19
    DOI: 10.1186/2191-1991-3-19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eric Arthur, 2012. "Wealth and antenatal care use: implications for maternal health care utilisation in Ghana," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Raghupathy, Shobana, 1996. "Education and the use of maternal health care in Thailand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 459-471, August.
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    4. Gage, Anastasia J., 2007. "Barriers to the utilization of maternal health care in rural Mali," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(8), pages 1666-1682, October.
    5. Agar Brugiavini & Noemi Pace, 2011. "Extending Health Insurance: Effects of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana," RSCAS Working Papers 2011/27, European University Institute.
    6. Fosu, Gabriel B., 1994. "Childhood morbidity and health services utilization: Cross-national comparisons of user-related factors from DHS data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 1209-1220, May.
    7. Patience Aseweh Abor & Gordon Abekah‐Nkrumah & Kojo Sakyi & Charles K.D. Adjasi & Joshua Abor, 2011. "The socio‐economic determinants of maternal health care utilization in Ghana," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(7), pages 628-648, June.
    8. Chen, Chin-Shyan & Liu, Tsai-Ching & Chen, Li-Mei, 2003. "National Health Insurance and the antenatal care use: a case in Taiwan," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 99-112, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kwame Adjei-Mantey & Charles Yuji Horioka, 2023. "Determinants of health insurance enrollment and health expenditure in Ghana: an empirical analysis," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1269-1288, December.
    2. Rana Ejaz Ali Khan & Muhammad Ali Raza, 2016. "Utilization of prenatal-care in India: an evidence from IDHS," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 18(1), pages 175-201, October.
    3. Monica Lambon-Quayefio & Nkechi Owoo, 2014. "Examining the Influence of Antenatal Care Visits and Skilled Delivery on Neonatal Deaths in Ghana," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 511-522, October.
    4. Ekow Asmah, Emmanuel & Orkoh, Emmanuel, 2015. "The Effects of Loan Amounts on Health Care Utilization in Ghana," MPRA Paper 62514, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Adu Owusu Sarkodie, 2022. "The effect of the price of time on healthcare provider choice in Ghana," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Monica Lambon-Quayefio & Nkechi S. Owoo, 2017. "Determinants and the impact of the National Health Insurance on neonatal mortality in Ghana," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Adu Owusu Sarkodie, 2021. "Effect of the National Health Insurance Scheme on Healthcare Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Payment: Evidence from GLSS 7," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.

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