title: Determinants of health insurance ownership among women in Kenya: evidence from the 2008-09 Kenya demographic and health survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Government of Kenya is making plans to implement a social health insurance program by transforming the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) into a universal health coverage program. The objective of this study was to examine the determinants associated with health insurance ownership among women in Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from the 2008-09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, a nationally representative survey. The sample comprised 8,435 women aged 15-49 years. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to describe the characteristics of the sample and to identify factors associated with health insurance ownership.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being employed in the formal sector, being married, exposure to the mass media, having secondary education or higher, residing in households in the middle or rich wealth index categories and residing in a female-headed household were associated with having health insurance. However, region of residence was associated with a lower likelihood of having insurance coverage. Women residing in Central (OR = 0.4; p < 0.01) and North Eastern (OR = 0.1; p < 0.5) provinces were less likely to be insured compared to their counterparts in Nairobi province.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the Kenyan government transforms the NHIF into a universal health program, it is important to implement a program that will increase equity and access to health care services among the poor and vulnerable groups.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, General Accident Insurance House, Ralph Bunche Road, P,O, Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, Kenya. jkimani@popcouncil.org.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kimani
authors.forename: Remare
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ettarh
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bellows
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010067:Ownership; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019472:Universal Health Insurance; D055815:Young Adult