SOURCES OF HEALTH CARE FINANCING AMONG SURGICAL PATIENTS SEEN AT THE DALHATU ARAF SPECIALIST HOSPITAL LAFIA NASARAWA STATE NIGERIA

Sources of healthcare financing especially among surgical patients in Nasarawa state is presently unknown. Sub-Saharan African countries have introduced a number of methods to funding healthcare system. The Nigerian government commenced implementation of a social health insurance scheme (National Health Insurance Scheme; NHIS) so as to improve on healthcare funding for its citizens. This study determined the sources of financing surgical cases, type of surgeries and compared the cost of treatment among patients attending the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital and other Health Centers in Nasarawa State. It was a hospital based cross-sectional descriptive study among 420 adults aged 18 years to 75 years in a study that lasted for two years. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0. Significant p was < 0.05. The average age of patient was 28.6 ± 11.9 years. There were more females (75.5%) with most (73.8) of our participants living in rural areas. Majority (60.0%) had Caesarean Section and one-sixth had exploratory laparotomy respectively. Most spending for healthcare needs was Out-Of-Pocket (OOP) with only a handful (6.7%) enjoying insurance coverage. The average cost of surgery was 41,337.73 Naira and 28,426.47 Naira among the low and high socio-economic class respectively. Most of the participants in this study were on Out-Of[1]Pocket healthcare financing with only one out of fifteen having health insurance coverage of the NHIS. Most of the surgical patients are from the rural areas, are females, do not attend tertiary level of education and are of low socio-economic status. Caesarean section and exploratory laparatomy were the predominant indications for surgeries. Those from the lower socio-economic status pay more for surgeries even though they earn less. We recommended that the state consider State health insurance agency and this should cater for people in both the formal ana the non-formal sectors. In addition, rural dwellers and surgeries such as caesarean section and emergency laparatomies should not be left out.