International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Access to quality healthcare services has been a major challenge in most Third World countries like Nigeria, including Ebonyi State. The high poverty rate and the huge costs of medical treatments make individuals struggle to afford even the most basic healthcare services. The government of Nigeria introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005 to give citizens access to affordable and quality healthcare. The government also employs several communications strategies to encourage public knowledge and enrolment into the scheme.
Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of those government communication interventions aimed at enhancing public knowledge and promoting enrolment into the NHIS in the State.
Method: Descriptive survey research method was adopted. A total of 394 respondents selected from the three senatorial zones of the state (Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South) were the participants. Questionnaire served as instrument for data collection, while generated data were analysed using simple percentage and frequency tables.
Result: Findings show high level of awareness of the existence of the scheme among residents of Ebonyi state, but there was lack of knowledge and understanding of the benefits and enrolment procedures into the scheme.
Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that government communication interventions have not enhanced enrolment into the NHIS despite significant level of awareness of the existence of the scheme in the state.
Unique contribution: The study has provided a fresh insight into the government communication interventions aimed at public knowledge and uptake of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Hopefully, policymakers, healthcare providers, and communication practitioners and professionals will find this fresh insight useful in planning future communication interventions aimed at knowledge and enrolment into the NHIS in Ebonyi State, and elsewhere.
Key recommendation: The study recommends a more cohesive and comprehensive community-driven enlightenment approach that involves orientation and use of community stakeholders and opinion leaders who would thereafter step down the message. Future communication efforts should involve more pre-programme implementation planning, including audience research, and media analysis. The management of the NHIS could liase with both the Federal and States Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for an enhanced professionalism and precision in execution.