Social, economic and demographic factors influencing membership of Community Health Fund (CHF), in Magu district, Mwanza region, Tanzania.

Abstract

Background: The Community Health Fund (CHF) was introduced in Tanzania as part of the Ministry of Health’s (MOHSW) endeavour to make health care affordable and available to the rural population and the informal sector. The scheme started in 1996 with Igunga acting as a pilot district, and was later expanded to other districts. Despite of its apparent benefits, enrolment level in all districts has remained far below the projected target. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess community knowledge and views on social, economic and demographic factors influencing CHF membership and participation in Magu district.

Methods and materials: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design involving 200 household heads. Data collection methods included administering of questionnaire and an in-depth interview to the key informants in the district. In order to answer all the objectives data was analysed to get frequencies, percentages and where the need raised cross tabulation was done to get interpretations using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results: The study findings revealed that 55% of community members interviewed reported inadequate information dissemination which caused poor understanding of the scheme. Major concerns were pointed out such as poor services delivery attributed by lack of medicine, community ability to pay, poor management of CHF funds, longer waiting time of health service especially in public health facilities, poor infrastructures just to mention a few.

Conclusion: The decision to enrol in CHF membership is moulded by a combination of many factors including, education, gender, economic status, awareness strategies, improved health services and low margin of social inequality within the community.