Authors: Kolawole Damilare OGUNDEJI, Aminat Adesola Lawal ADEYEMO.
Background: Universal Health Coverage is still underserved in Nigeria despite the low income earners’ friendly health insurance scheme organized by the government. Nurses being the patients advocate, counselors and educators are critical stakeholders in the crusade. The aim of this study is to evaluate nurses’ awareness about NHIS-VCSHIP in Nigeria.
Method: The study was a descriptive cross sectional research conducted among 167 nurses who were MCPDP participants in Oyo State Nigeria. A structured, closed ended questionnaire was used to collect data on nurses’ awareness about NHIS-VCSHIP. 150 nurses filled and returned the questionnaires given a response rate of 90%. Content of the questionnaire was based on the researchers’ field experience.
Result: Finding shows that 72% of the respondents were above 41 years of age with a mean of 38.9 ± 10.4. Twothird of the respondents had bachelor degree and above with between 6-15 years of working experience. The respondents’ awareness about NHIS and VCSHIP is 60% and 35% respectively. There is no statistical significant correlation between nurses socio-demographic characteristics and nurses awareness of the NHIS-VCSHIP.
Conclusion: Nurses awareness and participation in NHIS-VCSHIP needs to improve for nurses to educate and counsel patients and relatives for enrollment into the scheme in order to reduce out of pocket payment and scale up universal health coverage in Nigeria.
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