title: Provider payment methods and health worker motivation in community-based health insurance: a mixed-methods study.
abstract: In a community-based health insurance (CBHI) introduced in 2004 in Nouna health district, Burkina Faso, poor perceived quality of care by CBHI enrollees has been a key factor in observed high drop-out rates. The poor quality perceptions have been previously attributed to health worker dissatisfaction with the provider payment method used by the scheme and the resulting financial risk of health centers. This study applied a mixed-methods approach to investigate how health workers working in facilities contracted by the CBHI view the methods of provider payment used by the CBHI. In order to analyze these relationships, we conducted 23 in-depth interviews and a quantitative survey with 98 health workers working in the CBHI intervention zone. The qualitative in-depth interviews identified that insufficient levels of capitation payments, the infrequent schedule of capitation payment, and lack of a payment mechanism for reimbursing service fees were perceived as significant sources of health worker dissatisfaction and loss of work-related motivation. Combining qualitative interview and quantitative survey data in a mixed-methods analysis, this study identified that the declining quality of care due to the CBHI provider payment method was a source of significant professional stress and role strain for health workers. Health workers felt that the following five changes due to the provider payment methods introduced by the CBHI impeded their ability to fulfill professional roles and responsibilities: (i) increased financial volatility of health facilities, (ii) dissatisfaction with eligible costs to be covered by capitation; (iii) increased pharmacy stock-outs; (iv) limited financial and material support from the CBHI; and (v) the lack of mechanisms to increase provider motivation to support the CBHI. To address these challenges and improve CBHI uptake and health outcomes in the targeted populations, the health care financing and delivery model in the study zone should be reformed. We discuss concrete options for reform based on the study findings.
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Institute of Public Health, Germany; The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: jakerobyn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul Jacob
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Robyn
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, USA; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bärnighausen
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Institute of Public Health, Germany.
authors.forename: Aurélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souares
authors.affiliation: Nouna Health Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.affiliation: Nouna Health Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Burkina Faso; Nouna Health District, Ministry of Health, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bicaba
authors.affiliation: Nouna Health Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sié
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Institute of Public Health, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sauerborn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms
keywords: Burkina Faso; Community financing; Health care providers; Health insurance; Performance Based Financing; Quality of health care; Satisfaction