scholarly journals Beyond coverage: a qualitative study exploring the perceived impact of Gabon’s health insurance plan on access to and quality of prenatal care

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N’doh Ashken Sanogo ◽  
Arone Wondwossen Fantaye ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Compulsory Health Insurance

Abstract Background Access to affordable and adequate healthcare in a health system determines the universal health coverage achievement for all residents in a country. Achieving access to healthcare requires the availability of a financing system that ensures access to and provision of adequate care, regardless of the ability to pay. In sub-Saharan Africa, accessibility, use and coverage of prenatal visits are very low and poor, which reduces the quality of care. This paper explored the impact of a social health insurance scheme on the quality of antenatal care in Gabon. Methods This qualitative study involved the analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations to assess the quality of antenatal care. The study elicited perceptions on the demand side (pregnant women) and the supply side (health professionals) in health facilities. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women (aged between 15 and 49) and 5 with health professionals, who each had a seniority of at least 10 years, at different levels of care. Nine non-participant observations were also conducted. Coded transcripts were reviewed and analyzed using the Canadian Institute for Public Administration of Citizen-Centered Services model as an analytical guide. Results On the demand side, women were generally satisfied with the prenatal services they receive in health facilities. However, complaints were made about the rudeness of some nurses, the high price of the delivery kit (50,000 XAF), and the fact that some essential medicines for maternity are not covered. On the supply side, participants agreed that compulsory health insurance is important in providing antenatal care access to those who need it the most. However, some problems remain. The participants outlined some logistical problems and a lack of medical equipment, including the stock of drugs, disinfectants, and the absence of clean water. Conclusion Understanding the perceptions of pregnant women and health professionals regarding the quality of antenatal care can help to inform refinements to methods through which the services can be better provided. In addition, the study findings are vital to increasing the use of care, as well as combating high maternal mortality rates. Compulsory health insurance has improved the accessibility and utilization of healthcare services and has contributed to improved quality of care.

scholarly journals Sífilis na gestação: perspectivas e condutas do enfermeiro

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 4875
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Targino Nunes ◽  
Ana Caroline Viana Marinho ◽  
Rejane Marie Barbosa Davim ◽  
Gabriela Gonçalo de Oliveira Silva ◽  
Rayane Saraiva Félix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Categorical Analysis ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Compulsory Notification

RESUMOObjetivos: discutir as ações do enfermeiro na atenção pré-natal a gestantes com sífilis e identificar dificuldades encontradas pelos profissionais na adesão ao tratamento das gestantes e parceiros. Método: estudo qualitativo, tipo descritivo-exploratório, desenvolvido com quatro mulheres na faixa etária entre 40 e 55 anos, com a produção de dados a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas, analisada pela Técnica Análise Conteúdo na modalidade Análise Categorial. Resultado: das falas emergiram três categorias << Ações dos enfermeiros no acompanhamento à gestante com sífilis >>; << Aspectos que dificultam a eficácia no tratamento da sífilis gestacional >>; << Importância da notificação compulsória da sífilis >>. Conclusão: a ação do enfermeiro às gestantes com sífilis tem condutas adequadas segundo o Ministério da Saúde. Nas dificuldades ao tratamento citaram falta do medicamento, resistência das gestantes e tratamento doloroso. A notificação compulsória foi identificada apenas na unidade de referência, dificultando a real incidência de gestantes com sífilis e deficiências na qualidade da assistência. Descritores: Enfermeiro; Pré-Natal; Gestante; Saúde da Mulher; Neurossífilis; Sífilis Congênita.ABSTRACT Objectives: to discuss nurses' actions in prenatal care for pregnant women with syphilis and to identify difficulties found by professionals in adhering to the treatment of pregnant women and their partners. Method: this is a qualitative study, descriptive-exploratory type, developed with four women in the age group between 40 and 55 years old, with the production of data from semi-structured interviews, analyzed by the Content Analysis Technique in the Categorical Analysis modality. Result: three categories of nurses' actions in the follow-up of pregnant women with syphilis emerged from the speeches: << Aspects that hinder effectiveness in the treatment of gestational syphilis >>; << Importance of compulsory notification of syphilis >>. Conclusion: the nurse's action on pregnant women with syphilis has adequate behavior according to the Ministry of Health. In the difficulties to treatment, they mentioned lack of medication, the resistance to pregnant women and painful treatment. Compulsory notification was identified only in the reference unit hindering the real incidence of pregnant women with syphilis and deficiencies in the quality of care. Descriptors: Nurse; Prenatal Care; Pregnancy; Women´s Health; Neurosyphilis; Congenital Syphilis.RESUMENObjetivos: discutir las acciones del enfermero en la atención prenatal a gestantes con sífilis e identificar dificultades encontradas por los profesionales en la adherencia al tratamiento de las gestantes y compañeros. Método: estudio cualitativo, tipo descriptivo-exploratorio, desarrollado con cuatro mujeres entre 40 y 55 años, con la producción de datos a partir de entrevistas semi-estructuradas, analizada por la Técnica Análisis de Contenido en la modalidad Análisis Categorial. Resultado: de los discursos surgieron tres categorías << Acciones de los enfermeros en el acompañamiento a la gestante con sífilis >>; << Aspectos que dificultan la eficacia en el tratamiento de sífilis gestacional >>; << Importancia de la notificación compulsoria de sífilis >>. Conclusión: la acción del enfermero a las gestantes con sífilis tienen conductas adecuadas según el Ministerio de la Salud. En las dificultades al tratamiento citaron falta de medicamento, resistencia de las gestantes y tratamiento doloroso. La notificación compulsoria fue identificada apenas en la unidad de referencia dificultando la real incidencia de gestantes con sífilis y deficiencias en la calidad de la asistencia. Descriptores: Enfermería; Atención Prenatal; Embarazo; Salud de la Mujer; Neurosífilis; Sífilis Congénita.

scholarly journals Quality of antenatal care and associated factors among pregnant women attending government hospitals in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110580
Author(s):  
Assefa Philipos Kare ◽  
Amelo Bolka Gujo ◽  
Nigussie Yohanes Yote
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Selection Of

Background: Good-quality antenatal care improves maternal health in the least developed countries. This study was aimed at assessing the quality of antenatal care and associated factors among pregnant women attending hospitals in the Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia. Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 February to 30 April 2020 among 372 pregnant women. A two-stage sampling technique—the first stage, selection of health facilities; the second stage, selection of respondents—was used. Trained data collectors administered exit interviews. Data were entered into EPI Info 7 and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Quality of care was assessed using a validated questionnaire containing 68 attributes of quality. Good quality of care was determined by the proportion of respondents who scored ⩾80% of 68 variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used in the analysis. The outputs were presented using an adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Results: This study revealed that 41.2% (95% confidence interval: 36.2%–46.2%) of pregnant women had received good-quality antenatal care. Increased odds of the utilization of quality antenatal care were observed among women who lived in urban areas (adjusted odds ratio = 4.32, 95% confidence interval: 2.58–7.21), attained primary education and more (adjusted odds ratio = 2.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.60–4.48), earned a monthly income >3000 Ethiopia Birr (US$93.3) (adjusted odds ratio = 3.86, 95% confidence interval: 2.28–6.51), and visited hospitals for antenatal care ⩾4 times (adjusted odds ratio = 3.68, 95% confidence interval: 2.21–6.10). Conclusions: The proportion of women who received good-quality antenatal care was low. Good quality care was associated with residence, education status, income level, and frequency of antenatal care visits. Training care providers, strengthening counseling, and promoting women’s economic empowerment to improve the utilization of quality antenatal care are recommended.

scholarly journals Healthcare workers’ and pregnant women’s perceptions of digital tools to improve antenatal care

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S van Pelt ◽  
K Massar ◽  
L van der Eem ◽  
M van der Pijl ◽  
L Shields-Zeeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Rural Tanzania ◽  
Women’S Perceptions

Abstract Background To reduce maternal mortality in rural Tanzania, the need to improve antenatal care remains an urgent priority. Digital health tools are seen as a promising instrument to increase the quality of healthcare in developing countries, but it remains unclear to what extent they are perceived as beneficial during the antenatal care visit. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify factors that could improve the quality of antenatal care in rural Tanzania, and whether digital health tools would change healthcare workers' and pregnant women's perceptions of quality of care. Methods Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen healthcare workers and nineteen pregnant women, recruited from various health facilities in Magu District, Tanzania. Results Both healthcare workers and pregnant women possess a positive attitude towards antenatal care and acknowledge its importance. However, they also expressed a need for (structural) improvements in antenatal care services, particularly increased availability of diagnostic tests, and increased performance and motivation of healthcare workers. In addition, healthcare workers indicated a need for more training and better supervision. While both groups expected quality of care to increase should a digital health tool be implemented, they placed more focus on investing in health infrastructure, like the availability of medication and other materials, than investments in digital health. Conclusions Infrastructural improvements, including better communication between healthcare workers and pregnant women, as well as training opportunities and supportive leadership, are necessary before a digital health tool can be expected to increase the quality of antenatal care. Key messages Both healthcare workers and pregnant women acknowledged the need for higher quality antenatal care. Both groups suggested a number of infrastructural improvements, among which the use of a digital health tool.

EFFECTIVENESS OF USING MCH BOOKS AND MONSCA APPLICATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 14 T ANTENATAL SERVICE STANDARDS

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Rahmawati Rahmawati ◽  
Syarif Syafruddin ◽  
Nontji Wena
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Continuity Of Care ◽  
Control Design ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Service Standards

The component of antenatal care received by pregnant women is classified as incomplete because the implementation of standard pregnancy services is still using conventional methods. There are obstacles faced by midwives, such as the limited time in a recording, which has an impact on the declining quality of antenatal care standards. This research aims to compare the effectiveness of the use of KIA books and MONSCA applications in midwives in the application of the standard Antenatal service 14 T. This research was conducted in Puskesmas Tanete and Puskesmas Bontobangun Bulukumba District. The method used in the study is experimental quasi (pre-test post-test nonequivalent control design). Using a sample of midwives in this study, as many as 36 people were divided into two groups (18 intervention groups and 18 control groups). The sampling technique in this study used purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney Test. The results showed that there was a difference in the effectiveness of using KIA books with MONSCA applications, MOSCA's applications were easier to use, faster, safer, and more accurate than KIA books. It can be concluded that the MONSCA application is more effective than KIA books. Key words: Effectiveness, Android-based Smart Continuity of Care application, KIA book, Antenatal service 14 T

scholarly journals Implementation of a performance-based financing scheme in Malawi and resulting externalities on the quality of care of non-incentivized services

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Brenner ◽  
Caterina Favaretti ◽  
Julia Lohmann ◽  
Jobiba Chinkhumba ◽  
Adamson S. Muula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Negative Externalities ◽  
Positive Externalities ◽  
Performance Based Financing ◽  
A Performance

Abstract Background Countries in Africa progressively implement performance-based financing schemes to improve the quality of care provided by maternal, newborn and child health services. Beyond its direct effects on service provision, evidence suggests that performance-based financing can also generate positive externalities on service utilization, such as increased use of those services that reached higher quality standards after effective scheme implementation. Little, however, is known about externalities generated within non-incentivized health services, such as positive or negative effects on the quality of services within the continuum of maternal care. Methods We explored whether a performance-based financing scheme in Malawi designed to improve the quality of childbirth service provision resulted positive or negative externalities on the quality of non-targeted antenatal care provision. This non-randomized controlled pre-post-test study followed the phased enrolment of facilities into a performance-based financing scheme across four districts over a two-year period. Effects of the scheme were assessed by various composite scores measuring facilities’ readiness to provide quality antenatal care, as well as the quality of screening, prevention, and education processes offered during observed antenatal care consultations. Results Our study did not identify any statistically significant effects on the quality of ANC provision attributable to the implemented performance-based financing scheme. Our findings therefore suggest not only the absence of positive externalities, but also the absence of any negative externalities generated within antenatal care service provision as a result of the scheme implementation in Malawi. Conclusions Prior research has shown that the Malawian performance-based financing scheme was sufficiently effective to improve the quality of incentivized childbirth service provision. Our findings further indicate that scheme implementation did not affect the quality of non-incentivized but clinically related antenatal care services. While no positive externalities could be identified, we also did not observe any negative externalities attributable to the scheme’s implementation. While performance-based incentives might be successful in improving targeted health care processes, they have limited potential in producing externalities – neither positive nor negative – on the provision quality of related non-incentivized services.

scholarly journals POS0160-HPR THE CARE PROCESS OF HIP AND KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF PATIENTS’ EXPERIENCE

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 292.2-293
Author(s):  
S. Battista ◽  
M. Manoni ◽  
A. Dell’isola ◽  
M. Englund ◽  
A. Palese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Exact Science ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patients Experience

Background:The care process is often a complex and intimate process experienced by patients. Osteoarthritis (OA) care is usually characterised by multimodal interventions that consider the broader array of symptoms and functional limitations and often require a high level of patients’ compliance. Despite efforts to improve the quality of care of patients suffering from OA, and the publication of state-of-the-art clinical practice guidelines [1], the quality of the care process, as experienced by patients, seems to be suboptimal [2]. Hence, it is essential to investigate how patients experience this process to highlight potential elements that can enhance or spoil it to optimise the care quality.Objectives:To explore the patients’ experience of the received OA care process.Methods:Qualitative study, 10 semi-structured interviews were performed. The interview guide was created by a pool of healthcare professionals (physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses) and expert patients. It investigated the emotional experience, beliefs, expectations, perceived barriers and facilitators towards conservative treatments perceived by patients suffering from OA. The interviews lasted approximately one hour, were transcribed verbatim and analysed independently by two authors, who labelled their core parts to find categories and subcategories. A theme-based analysis was performed following an ecological paradigm, naturalistic epistemology, philosophy of phenomenological research.Results:Our analysis revealed 7 main categories with several subcategories (Fig. 1). 1) Uncertainty as some patients perceived treatment choice not to be based on medical evidence “there is an almost religious way of thinking on how to deal with the pathology. It is not an exact science when you choose the physicians you choose the treatment”. 2) Relationship with the self and the others as some patients did not feel understood or even shameful and hopeless about their condition. 3) Patients’ and Health Professionals’ beliefs about the pathology management where common thoughts were the perceived (ab)use of passive therapies, the movement as something dangerous and that OA is “something that you try to resist to, but (surgery) is your destiny”. 4) facilitators and 5) barriers of the adherence to therapeutic exercise that revolve around the cost of the therapy, the time needed and the willingness to change life habits. 6) Patients’ attitudes towards pathology in which the oldest patients perceive OA as “something I have to accept since I am getting old” and the youngest as “Something I have to fight”. 7) Relationship with food in which diet is seen as something that “you force yourself to follow” which is useful only to lose weight and not to preserve a high health status and where overeating is used “to eat your feelings”.Figure 1.Categories and Subcategories stemmed from the analysis of the patients’ interviewsConclusion:Patients suffering from hip and knee OA seem to experience an uncertain care process. The lack of clear explanations and the attitude towards conservative treatment, which is considered as “a pastime while waiting for surgery,” fosters the importance of providing patients with adequate information about the treatment, to shift their beliefs and improve their awareness. This will enhance a patient-centred and shared decision-making treatments.References:[1]Fernandes L, Hagen KB, Bijlsma JWJ, et al. EULAR recommendations for the non-pharmacological core management of hip and knee osteoarthritis. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2013;72:1125–35.[2]Basedow M, Esterman A. Assessing appropriateness of osteoarthritis care using quality indicators: a systematic review. J Eval Clin Pract 2015;21:782–9.Acknowledgements:This work is part of the project funded by EULAR Health Professionals Research Grant 2020.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Care-seeking and managing diabetes in rural Bangladesh: a mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Maria Jennings ◽  
Joanna Morrison ◽  
Kohenour Akter ◽  
Hassan Haghparast-Bidgoli ◽  
Carina King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rural Bangladesh

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major health challenge worldwide and in low-income countries such as Bangladesh, however little is known about the care-seeking of people with diabetes. We sought to understand the factors that affect care-seeking and diabetes management in rural Bangladesh in order to make recommendations as to how care could be better delivered. Methods Survey data from a community-based random sample of 12,047 adults aged 30 years and above identified 292 individuals with a self-reported prior diagnosis of diabetes. Data on health seeking practices regarding testing, medical advice, medication and use of non-allopathic medicine were gathered from these 292 individuals. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with people with diabetes and semi-structured interviews with health workers explored care-seeking behaviour, management of diabetes and perceptions on quality of care. We explore quality of care using the WHO model with the following domains: safe, effective, patient-centred, timely, equitable and efficient. Results People with diabetes who are aware of their diabetic status do seek care but access, particularly to specialist diabetes services, is hindered by costs, time, crowded conditions and distance. Locally available services, while more accessible, lack infrastructure and expertise. Women are less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and attend specialist services. Furthermore costs of care and dissatisfaction with health care providers affect medication adherence. Conclusion People with diabetes often make a trade-off between seeking locally available accessible care and specialised care which is more difficult to access. It is vital that health services respond to the needs of patients by building the capacity of local health providers and consider practical ways of supporting diabetes care. Trial registration ISRCTN41083256. Registered on 30/03/2016.

scholarly journals Patient’s Satisfaction With Quality of Care at a National Health Insurance Clinic at a Tertiary Center, South-South Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352098147
Author(s):  
Temitope Esther Olamuyiwa ◽  
Foluke Olukemi Adeniji
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
P Value ◽  
Tertiary Center

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is a commonly used indicator for measuring the quality of health care. This study assessed patients’ satisfaction with the quality of care at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) clinic in a tertiary facility. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 379 systematically selected participants completed an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Bivariate analysis was performed using Pearson χ2 with a P value set at ≤ .05. Results: The study found out that about half (193, 50.9%) of the respondents were satisfied with the availability of structure. Patients were not satisfied with waiting time in the medical records, account, laboratory, and pharmacy sections. Overall, 286 (75.5%) of the respondents were satisfied with the outcome of health care provided at the NHIS clinic. A statistically significant association ( P = .00) was observed between treatment outcome and patient satisfaction. Conclusion: There is a need to address structural deficiencies and time management at the clinic.

Content of antenatal care and perception about services provided by primary hospitals in Nepal: a convergent mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yubraj Acharya ◽  
Nigel James ◽  
Rita Thapa ◽  
Saman Naz ◽  
Rishav Shrestha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
National Level ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Outcome Variable

Abstract Background Nepal has made significant strides in maternal and neonatal mortality over the last three decades. However, poor quality of care can threaten the gains, as maternal and newborn services are particularly sensitive to quality of care. Our study aimed to understand current gaps in the process and the outcome dimensions of the quality of antenatal care (ANC), particularly at the sub-national level. We assessed these dimensions of the quality of ANC in 17 primary, public hospitals across Nepal. We also assessed the variation in the ANC process across the patients’ socio-economic gradient. Methods We used a convergent mixed methods approach, whereby we triangulated qualitative and quantitative data. In the quantitative component, we observed interactions between providers (17 hospitals from all 7 provinces) and 198 women seeking ANC and recorded the tasks the providers performed, using the Service Provision Assessments protocol available from the Demographic and Health Survey program. The main outcome variable was the number of tasks performed by the provider during an ANC consultation. The tasks ranged from identifying potential signs of danger to providing counseling. We analyzed the resulting data descriptively and assessed the relationship between the number of tasks performed and users’ characteristics. In the qualitative component, we synthesized users’ and providers’ narratives on perceptions of the overall quality of care obtained through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Results Out of the 59 tasks recommended by the World Health Organization, providers performed only 22 tasks (37.3%) on average. The number of tasks performed varied significantly across provinces, with users in province 3 receiving significantly higher quality care than those in other provinces. Educated women were treated better than those with no education. Users and providers agreed that the overall quality of care was inadequate, although providers mentioned that the current quality was the best they could provide given the constraints they faced. Conclusion The quality of ANC in Nepal’s primary hospitals is poor and inequitable across education and geographic gradients. While current efforts, such as the provision of 24/7 birthing centers, can mitigate gaps in service availability, additional equipment, infrastructure and human resources will be needed to improve quality. Providers also need additional training focused on treating patients from different backgrounds equally. Our study also points to the need for additional research, both to document the quality of care more objectively and to establish key determinants of quality to inform policy.

Evaluation of New York State's Child Health Plus: Children Who Have Asthma

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement_E1) ◽  
pp. 719-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Szilagyi ◽  
Jane L. Holl ◽  
Lance E. Rodewald ◽  
Lorrie Yoos ◽  
Jack Zwanziger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
New York ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Acute Asthma ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Asthma Severity ◽  
Asthma Care ◽  
Uninsured Children

Background. Little is known about the impact of providing health insurance to uninsured children who have asthma or other chronic diseases. Objectives. To evaluate the association between health insurance and the utilization of health care and the quality of care among children who have asthma. Design. Before-and-during study of children for a 1-year period before and a 1-year period immediately after enrollment in a state-funded health insurance plan. Intervention. In 1991 New York State implemented Child Health Plus (CHPlus), a health insurance program providing ambulatory and ED (ED), but not hospitalization coverage for children 0 to 12.99 years old whose family incomes were below 222% of the federal poverty level and who were not enrolled in Medicaid. Subjects. A total of 187 children (2–12.99 years old) who had asthma and enrolled in CHPlus between November 1, 1991 and August 1, 1993. Main Outcome Measures. Rates of primary care visits (preventive, acute, asthma-specific), ED visits, hospitalizations, number of specialists seen, and quality of care measures (parent reports of the effect of CHPlus on quality of asthma care, and rates of recommended asthma therapies). The effect of CHPlus was assessed by comparing outcome measures for each child for the year before versus the year after CHPlus enrollment, controlling for age, insurance coverage before CHPlus, and asthma severity. Data Ascertainment. Parent telephone interviews and medical chart reviews at primary care offices, EDs, and public health clinics. Main Results. Visit rates to primary care providers were significantly higher during CHPlus compared with before CHPlus for chronic illness care (.995 visits before CHPlus vs 1.34 visits per year during CHPlus), follow-up visits (.86 visits vs 1.32 visits per year), total visits (5.69 visits vs 7.11 visits per year), and for acute asthma exacerbations (.61 visits vs 0.84 visits per year). There were no significant associations between CHPlus coverage and ED visits or hospitalizations, although specialty utilization increased (30% vs 40%; P = .02). According to parents, CHPlus reduced asthma severity for 55% of children (no change in severity for 44% and worsening severity for 1%). Similarly, CHPlus was reported to have improved overall health status for 45% of children (no change in 53% and worse in 1%), primarily attributable to coverage for office visits and asthma medications. CHPlus was associated with more asthma tune-up visits (48% before CHPlus vs 63% during CHPlus). There was no statistically significant effect of CHPlus on several other quality of care measures such as follow-up after acute exacerbations, receipt of influenza vaccination, or use of bronchodilators or antiinflammatory medications. Conclusions. Health insurance for uninsured children who have asthma helped overcome financial barriers that prevented children from receiving care for acute asthma exacerbations and for chronic asthma care. Health insurance was associated with increased utilization of primary care for asthma and improved parent perception of quality of care and asthma severity, but not with some quality indicators. Although more intensive interventions beyond health insurance are needed to optimize quality of asthma care, health insurance coverage substantially improves the health care for children who have asthma.

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