Performance Of Community Health Fund In Health Services Delivery In Rural Areas: A Case Of Kongwa District

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in Kongwa District. The overall objective of the study was to assess the performance of the Community Health Fund towards health services delivery. The specific objectives were, to examine the people‟s awareness on utilization of health services through CHF, to explore benefits and challenges community members face when seeking health services through CHF and to assess efforts made by the district health management team to solve prevailing challenges experienced by CHF in providing effective and efficient services to people in the study area Both primary and secondary data were collected through different methods for instance Primary data were collected through interview method, observation and focus group discussion. While secondary data were collected through reviewing various documents including books, internet, journals and report from other researchers. The data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) progamme. The study used descriptive statistics where frequencies and percents were obtained. The results on the awareness about CHF scheme showed that 31% CHF members joined the scheme because the scheme is less cost as compared to the needs of health services. Others joined because they are public workers, while others have been motivated by CHF officers as well as easiness to access health services. The study also revealed that the scheme is beneficial as 71% of the members have already joined the scheme. In spite of that, the study also counted out the small improvement on the services provision by 23%. It is recommended that stakeholders like government have to put more efforts on emphasizing the community health fund in improving health service delivery in terms of drugs availability, health personnel, provision of education and sensitization on the scheme so as to increase the enrolment and enhance performance.