title: [Combining microcredit, microinsurance, and the provision of health care can improve access to quality care in urban areas of Africa: Results of an experiment in the Bandalungwa health zone in Kinshasa, the Congo].
abstract: This study, based on a survey conducted in 2008, examines how combining microcredit, microinsurance, and health care provision can improve access to quality care in the health zone of Bandalungwa, in Kinshasa. The bivariate analysis showed a significant association between increased purchasing power and earnings (p = 0.001), between earnings and savings (p = 0.000), and between health insurance and improved access to health care. These results show that 68.8% of borrowers reported an increase in their purchasing power, of whom 82% reported profits. Those with savings were 24.7 times more likely to purchase health insurance than those without; and 72% of those who regularly made health insurance payments improved their access to care. Combining microcredit, health microinsurance, and health care can improve access to quality health care at lower cost. This suggests that health insurance could usefully be integrated into the primary health-care system.
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, faculté de médecine, département des sciences de la santé publique, quartier Hôpital, 13, avenue Hippocrate, CHU Sart-Tilman B23, tour de pathologie, 4000 Liège, Belgique, Institut supérieur des techniques médicales de Kinshasa, route de Kimwenza campus du CNPP, 774 XI Kinshasa, République démocratique du Congo.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manzambi Kuwekita
authors.affiliation: Santé publique, aspects généraux, université de Liège, École de santé publique, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gosset
authors.affiliation: Santé publique, aspects spécifiques, université de Liège, École de santé publique, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.affiliation: Santé publique, institut supérieur des techniques médicales d'Ipamu,, Idiofa, République démocratique du Congo.
authors.forename: M-P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Balula Semutsari
authors.affiliation: Santé communautaire, institut supérieur des techniques médicales, Kinshasa, République démocratique du Congo.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tshiama Kabongo
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, faculté de médecine, département des sciences de la santé publique, quartier Hôpital, 13, avenue Hippocrate, CHU Sart-Tilman B23, tour de pathologie, 4000 Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bruyere
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, faculté de médecine, département des sciences de la santé publique, quartier Hôpital, 13, avenue Hippocrate, CHU Sart-Tilman B23, tour de pathologie, 4000 Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Reginster
mesh_terms: D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010350:Patient Credit and Collection; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Democratic Republic of the Congo; access to health care; compulsory health insurance; health care; microcredit; microinsurance