In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a large part of
the population now lives in a context of extreme poverty and suffers from serious health
problems. Deprived of social protection, these people see themselves therefore
in the financial inability to access quality health care. This study aims to
analyze the different characteristics of members of the mutual health insurance
and compare with non-members. The following observations were made: Of those surveyed,
97.7% and 91.4% of members were not members resorted average 4 times to health services during the
last 6 months prior to the survey, a statistically significant difference was
observed (p = 0.027). The survey data showed that a significant proportion of members and
non-members (62.5% vs 66.4%; p = 0.36) had resorted to self-medication. For non-members, the
rate of self-medication
and traditional therapy were higher. Lack of money is mentioned by members and
non-members as a problem limiting access to health care (38.3% vs 69.5%; p < 0.0001).
Cite this paper
Richard, C. K. , Alphonsine, B. M. , Emmanuel, K. M. , Hippolyte, M. N. , Paul, C. M. , Moise, K. K. , Dominique, K. M. and Félicien, T. K. (2017). Mutual Health Insurance and Access to Care in the Health Zone of Kabinda, Kasai-Oriental, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3568. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103568.
Waelkens,
M.-P.
and Criel,
B.
(2004) The
Mutual Health Organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa: Overview and Reflections on
a Research Agenda. PST Discussion Paper.
Musango, L.,
Bruno, D.,
Michele, D.
and
Criel, B.
(2004) The Profile of the Members and Non-Members of Mutual Health Insurance in
Rwanda: The Case Kabutare Health District. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 9, 1222-1227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01318.x
Democratic Republic of Congo. Ministry of
Planning—Ministry of Health (2009) Survey Demographic and Health Survey
(DHS-RDC, 2009). Analysis Report, Kinshasa.
Carrin, G.
(2002) Social health Insurance in Developing Countries: A Continuing Challenge. International Social Security Review, 55,
73-89. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-246X.00124
Soglohoun, P.
(2012) Contribution of Mutual Health Organization to Demand Services and Health
Care in the DRC. Health Systems 20/20 Project, Abt Associates Inc., Bethesda.
Caldwel, A.D.
(1989) Education as a Factor in Mortality Decline: An Examination of Nigeria
Data. Population Studies, 33,
395-415. https://doi.org/10.2307/2173888
Ministry
of Planning, UNICEF (2002) National Survey on the Situation of Children and
Women (MICS 2) in the DRC in the DRC in 2001. Analysis
Report, Kinshasa, 221 p.
Tshimungu, K. (2010) Contribution to the Study of the
Determinants of the Resurgence of Human African Trypanosomiasis in Kinshasa.
PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liège, Liege.
Musango, L.,
Bruno, D.,
Michele, D. and
Criel, B.
(2004) The Profile of the Members and Non-Members of Mutual Health Insurance in
Rwanda: the Case Kabutare Health District. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 9, 1222-1227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01318.x
Ilunga, I.F., Levêque, A., Okenge, N.L.,
Tshimungu, K.F.
and
Dramaix, M.
(2014) Costs of Treatment of Children Affected by Severe Malaria in Reference
Hospitals of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Infection in
Developing Countries, 8, 1574-1583. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.4622
Barth, C. (1998) District-Based Health Insurance in
Sub-Saharan. Part I: From Theory to Practice in: Studies in Health Services
Organization and Policy, 9. ITG Press, Antwerpen, Belgium, 31-42.
The PRIMA Project in Guinea Conakry (2002) Study of the
Social Perception of Community Mutual Maliando Health Area. In: Criel, A.N. and Barry Von Roenne, F.,
Eds., A Mutual Health
Organization Experience in Rural Medicus Mundi Belgium,
Brussels, 121-206.