Understanding the concept of health insurance: An innovative social marketing tool

Health insurance scheme is relatively new in many low to middle income countries. Awareness about and knowledge of the scheme is poor among potential beneficiaries. There are some misconceptions associated with health insurance, which contributes to its low acceptance in affected nations. The aim of this work is to present an information-education and communication concept that will serve as a social marketing tool that could enhance peoples' understanding of the modus operandi of health insurance scheme, and as well as to demystify superstitious belief associated with it. This will contribute to a better understanding of the scheme among the people and enhance its uptake

Willingness to pay for insecticide-treated Nets in Berehet District, Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia: Implication of Social Marketing

BACKGROUND: Understanding the feasibility of achieving widespread coverage with Insecticide-Treated Nets has to be preceded by learning how people value the Insecticide-Treated Nets and estimating the potential demand and willingness to pay so that sustainability of the intervention can beassured. The objective of this study was to determine willingness to pay for Insecticide-Treated Nets among households in Berehet District, Northern Ethiopia.METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods in fiverandomlyselected Kebeles fromJanuary-February 2012. Open ended contingent valuation technique with follow-up method was used. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions and observation methods. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: The average number of individuals per Insecticide-Treated Nets was 3.83.Nearly 68.5% persons had willingness to buy Insecticide-Treated Nets if they have access to these Nets. The median maximum price a person is willingness to pay for blue rectangular Insecticide-Treated Net was 20 ETB. People had willingness to pay 30 ETB for blue and white conical insecticide-treated nets.Working on knowledgeof malaria (OR=0.68, CI (0.47, 0.98; p<0.05), perceived benefit of Insecticide-Treated Nets (OR=0.28, CI (0.2-0.4; p<0.05), perceived susceptibility (OR=0.64(0.44-0.93; p<0.05) and perceived severity of malaria (OR=0.65(0.47-0.91, p<0.05) had significant association with a willingness to pay Insecticide-Treated Nets. Respondents who prefer kebele/place/ to buy Insecticide-Treated Net for rectangular shape had a significant association with a willingness to pay for Insecticide-Treated Nets (OR=1.92, CI= 1.07-3.92).CONCLUSIONS: Promotions, products, price and place had significant association with willingness to pay for Insecticide-Treated Nets. Designing a social marketing strategy helps ensure sustainable supply of Insecticide-Treated Nets and proper use of Insecticide-Treated Nets

Scepticism towards Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets for Malaria Control in Rural Community in North-Western Tanzania

Abstract:Despite existence of effective tools for malaria control; malaria continues to be one of the leading killer diseases especially among under-five year children and pregnant women in poor rural populations of Sub Saharan Africa. In Tanzania Mainland the disease contributes to 39.4 of the total OPD attendances. In terms of mortality; malaria is known to be responsible for more than one third of deaths among children of age below 5 years and also contributes for up to one fifth of deaths among pregnant women. This paper is based on a study conducted in a rural community along the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza region; North-Western Tanzania. The study explores reasons for scepticism and low uptake of insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) that were promoted through social marketing strategy for malaria control prior to the introduction of long lasting nets (LLN). The paper breaks from traditional approach that tend to study low uptake of health interventions in terms of structural practical constraints - cost; accessibility; everyday priorities - or in terms of cognition - insufficient knowledge of benefits e.g. ignorance of public health messages. This paper has shown that; the majority of people who could afford the prices of ITNs and who knew where to obtain the insecticides did not necessarily buy them. This suggests that; although people tend to report costrelated factors as a barrier against the use of ITNs; there are other critical concerns at work. Without underestimating the practical factors; our study have recommended to consider critical examinations of those other concerns that hinder optimal utilization of ITN for malaria control; and the basis for those concerns

Social Marketing of Insecticide-Treated Bed Net for Malaria Control : an Experience in a Semi-urban Community in South-South Nigeria

Background: The effectiveness of the insecticide- treated bed net in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with malaria has been proved at all levels of malaria transmission. Several models on how to achieve massive coverage have been suggested; but social marketing of the nets is highly favoured for its sustainability.Aim: To report the experience of a small- scale social marketing project for insecticide-treated bed net in a semi-urban community in south-south Nigeria.Methods: The social marketing project was established in 2003 in Egbema; a semi-urban community in Rivers State; with a population of 47;000. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study; with the sales records of the project and a structured; interviewer-administered questionnaire as study tools. The sales records were analysed to assess the performance of the project; while the questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-economic characteristics of buyers of the net.Results: In six months; the project achieved an uptake rate of 1.10 ITN per month; per 1000 population; and a 6.5 coverage of the target population. Most; 208 (67); of the paid up sales were achieved at the well-child clinic and the antenatal clinic of the health facilities that serve the community. Buyers in the two lower socio- economic quartiles bought only about one third of the nets. Members of the community were predominantly farmers/fishermen; but only 19 (10) of the buyers of the nets identified themselves as such.Conclusion: The study shows that the use of social marketing for promoting the use of ITN for malaria control is slow in a poor community