'Digitising health protection schemes in Ghana': An enquiry into factors associated with the use of a mobile phone-based health insurance contribution payment system among tertiary students.

In 2018, Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) introduced a mobile money payment system for membership renewal and premium payments to enhance enrolment and retention rates. However, the adoption of such innovations depends on various factors, including personal traits and public perceptions. This study aims to explore the determinants of NHIS membership renewal and premium payment via the mobile renewal system. Conducted at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, the study used a survey design to gather data from 951 KNUST students. Employing logistic regression analysis, the study identified key factors influencing the use of the NHIS mobile renewal service. The findings revealed that individuals aged 19-21, 25-27 or above 27, without mobile money accounts, and those with no history of online purchases were less likely to adopt the mobile renewal system (P < .05). Conversely, those perceiving the system as useful and easy to use were more likely to utilise it for NHIS membership renewal (P < .05). In conclusion, policymakers should prioritise system quality, accessibility, perceived ease of use, and usefulness to facilitate the adoption and usage of the NHIS mobile payment system. These findings contribute valuable insights for enhancing the effectiveness of health insurance innovations.

Hesitant or not: A cross-sectional study of socio-demographics, conspiracy theories, trust in public health information, social capital and vaccine hesitancy among older adults in Ghana.

Vaccination is an effective strategy to reduce the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) burden, but its effectiveness hinges on timely vaccine uptake. Addressing concerns among vaccine-hesitant individuals is critical to preventing the immunization program from failing. This study analyzes the determinants of vaccine hesitance among older adults (aged 50 years and older) in Ghana. We adopted a cross-sectional survey with a quantitative approach that accessed data from 400 older adults from the Accra and Kumasi metropolitan areas using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate the socio-demographic, social capital, conspiracy theories about COVID-19, and public health information factors associated with vaccine hesitance within the sample. The study found that only minority (5%) of respondents had been vaccinated, with 79% indicating willingness to be vaccinated. The study found that females (AOR: 0.734, CI: 0.019-0.036, p = .027) and those who have retired (AOR: 0.861, CI: 0.003-0.028, p = .034) were significantly less likely to engage in COVID-19 vaccine hesitance. Furthermore, the study revealed that participants who trust public health information (AOR: 0.065, CI: 0.022-0.049, p = .031) and have social capital (AOR: 0.886, CI: 0.017-0.032, p = .001) were significantly less likely to present COVID-19 vaccine hesitance. Finally, participants who believe in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and vaccines (AOR: 3.167, CI: 1.021-2.043, p = .004) were significantly more likely to engage in COVID-19 vaccine hesitance. Efforts to convey vaccination benefits and address issues through evidence-based information are needed to strengthen and preserve the public's trust in vaccines in Ghana.

[Husbands' involvement in antenatal-related care in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana: inquiry into the facilitators and barriers]. / Implication des maris dans les soins anténatals: enquête sur les facilitateurs et les barrières: Cas des habitants de Bosomtwe au Ghana.

BACKGROUND: This paper explored the facilitators and barriers to husbands' involvement in antenatal-related care in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana from the perspectives of husbands, pregnant women with and without delivery experience, nursing mothers, midwives and traditional birth attendants. METHODS: The study relied on the qualitative research design to collect and analyse data on the facilitators and barriers to husbands' involvement in antenatal-related care. The unit of analysis was made up of 36 participants-husbands (14), pregnant women with delivery experience and, nursing mothers (8), pregnant women without delivery experience (6), male and female midwives (6) and traditional birth attendants (2) who were purposively selected. The study's data was gathered using in-depth interviews and analysed through the content approach. RESULTS: Various economic [work and time constraint], cultural [the association of childbearing and its allied duties to women] and health-system factors [lack of antenatal services targeted at husbands and health professionals' attitude] hinder husbands' active participation in antenatal care. Despite these, some husbands participated in antenatal care owing to the importance they accord to the health and safety of their wives and the foetus; changing gender roles and preferential treatments received by their wives at antenatal clinics [as a result of the involvement of their husbands in prenatal care]. CONCLUSION: The implementation of alternative strategies, like, couple counselling, prolonging operating times of health centres to accommodate working men are recommended to provide a more accommodative and attractive avenue for husbands to support their wives during pregnancy. These efforts must be reinforced by the entire society through modifying the "ill-held view" that pregnancy and childcare is the sole duty of a woman.

The involvement of males [husbands] in antenatal-related care is noted to have significant impacts on the wellbeing of pregnant women and lessen burden of pregnancy, delivery and childcare. In this study, we examined the opinions of some stakeholders in the space of pregnancy and childcare [husbands, pregnant women with delivery experience, nursing mothers, midwives and traditional birth attendants], regarding the involvement of husbands in antenatal-related care. The study was conducted in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana, West Africa.The participants were asked to narrate experiences of husbands' involvement in pregnancy-related care, in addition to the barriers and facilitators of such engagement processes. A total of 36 participants were involved in the study. The narrative approach was used to report the findings.It was found that male's involvement in antenatal-related care is minimal in the study area. Factors such as limited time due to economic activities and the responsibility of providing financial resources for the wellbeing of the family and cultural factors in the form of childbearing being a responsibility of women deterred husbands from antenatal-related care. Again, absence of services that target males also served as a barrier. That notwithstanding, the importance attached by husbands to the health and safety of their wives and the foetus, the changing gender roles and preferential treatments given to pregnant women who are accompanied by their husbands facilitated males involvement.In conclusion, the study has implications for male-friendly antenatal care services development and continuous effort to undo the "cultural-ills" of male's involvement in pregnancy care in Ghana.