FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNITY HEALTH FINANCING ENTERPRISE SCHEME MEMBERSHIP UPTAKE IN KENYA
Christopher Waithanji
Masters Student, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Gordon Karanja Ngugi
Department of Entrepreneurship and Procurement Development, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Mwamisha Mkala
Department of Entrepreneurship and Procurement Development, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Despite the significance of community–based health financing schemes in enabling the poor from marginalized areas to access health care, little effort has been made to study their impact on social protection in the communities where they operate. The study explored how the uptake of scheme membership is influenced by human resource management, social capital networks, access to financial capital, awareness and inclusion of community, and entrepreneurship opportunities. A descriptive research survey was conducted targeting the community-based health financing scheme membership located in Western Kenya. A structured self–administered questionnaire was utilized to collect quantitative and qualitative data, which were then analyzed using SPSS. The study found a strong positive relationship between human resource training and development, social capital networks, access to finance, awareness and inclusion, and entrepreneurship opportunity to facilitate improved livelihoods and scheme membership. These findings informed the recommendations that community health financing schemes should lay greater emphasis on initiating viable livelihood activities for their members to increase their income. In addition, there should be exposure of the members and the scheme management to best practice models for increased performance towards social protection.
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