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Web End = J Public Health (2016) 24:175183 DOI 10.1007/s10389-016-0716-9
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Attitudes of health care professionals towards Mutual Health Organizations: evidence from two regions in the Northwest Province of Cameroon
Esther Hammer-Fomuki1,2 & Patrick Mba Okwen3 & Ulrich Ranft4 &
Joachim Gardemann5 & Tamara Schikowski4,6
Received: 6 October 2015 /Accepted: 8 February 2016 /Published online: 16 March 2016 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016
AbstractAim Mutual Health Organizations (MHOs) can be a potential means to reduce barriers to health care in low-income countries with poor access to health care and high health care costs for the population. One important challenge is the relationship between MHOs and health care professionals (HCPs). Our study evaluates HCPs experiences of, and attitudes towards MHOs.
Subjects and Methods A total of 210 HCPs from three private and two public clinics in Kumbo and Bamenda (Cameroon) were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, where answers are quantified by a five-point ordinal scale.
Results We identified regional and institutional differences. HCPs in Kumbo and in private clinics tend to have a more positive attitude towards MHOs than in Bamenda and in public clinics (mean 1.66 vs. 2.02, respectively 1.72 vs. 2.05,). HCPs in Bamenda and in public clinics report more negative
experiences with MHO members (mean 2.86 vs. 3.67, respectively 2.72 vs. 3.56) and rank quality of health care lower. Conclusion Our findings underline the important role of HCPs in the context of MHOs; therefore, programs should aim to involve HCPs in respect of regional and institutional differences.
Keywords Mutual health organizations . Community based health insurance . Health personnel . Developing countries . Health service
Introduction
Health care systems all over the world are faced with several challenges to provide an adequate supply of health care for the population and appropriate financing. Especially in low-income countries, like those in sub-Saharan Africa, it is increasingly difficult to sustain sufficient financing and supply of health care services (Atim 1999; Sachs et al. 2001).
For that reason, many people in these countries have limited or no adequate access to health care and must bear the burden...