Socio-economic determinants of community health fund membership in Kalambo District, Rukwa Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The study aims at determining the influence of factors affecting CHF membership. The paper
analyses socio-economic determinants of Household HH’s membership to CHF. Across
sectional research design was used in the study whereby data were collected using a household
questionnaire survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informants Interviews (KIIs) and
documentary review. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential
statistics whereby a binary logistic model was used. Qualitative data were analysed using content
analysis. The sample size was 354 households, which were determined by Yemen’s formula. The
results of this study show that, in the eleven variables used in the binary logistic model, three
were found to be significant predictors of CHF membership at (p <0.05). These are awareness of
existence of CHF, Ex-CHF membership and income. It is concluded that many households have
not joined the fund due to lack of awareness on the existence of CHF and lack of income.
Therefore, Local Government Authorities (LGAs) should initiate concerted educative measures
to community members on the existence and importance of CHF to their health. Furthermore,
LGAs should set a reasonable amount of money to be contributed by HHsin enrolling for the
fund, basing on the district socio-economic profile.