Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41527049›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Satisfaction and retention among NHIS enrollees at a tertiary hospital in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: facility-based insights for community-based health insurance policy.

Georgian Chiaka Ibeneme, Chika Grace Ugochukwu, Sam Chidi Ibeneme, Akachukwu Omumuagwula Nwosu, Gerhard Fortwengel, Constance Chioma Oko, Nelson Chidinma Okpua

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Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Georgian Chiaka IbenemeFaculty of Nursing Sciences, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Chika Grace UgochukwuDepartment of Nursing Science, Geoffrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria.
Sam Chidi IbenemeDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences & Technology, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. sam.ibeneme@unn.edu.ng.
Akachukwu Omumuagwula NwosuDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Gerhard FortwengelFaculty III, Hochschule Hannover University of Applied Sciences & Arts, 30159, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Constance Chioma OkoDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences & Technology, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Nelson Chidinma OkpuaDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences & Technology, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria aims to improve access to healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket payments, yet persistent dissatisfaction with NHIS-provided services threatens enrollee retention and scheme sustainability. This study assessed satisfaction and willingness to retain NHIS membership among enrollees at a tertiary hospital in Ebonyi State and explored implications for community-based health insurance policy and service-delivery reform.

methodsWe conducted a convergent parallel mixed-methods study comprising a survey of 376 NHIS enrollees attending outpatient clinics at Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, and in-depth phenomenological interviews with with 20 enrollees (10 males, 10 females, aged 24-68years, NHIS enrolment 5-11years). Convenience sampling was used. Satisfaction with NHIS services was measured using a 4-point Likert scale, and associations with willingness to retain membership were examined using chi-square tests, Cramér's V and predictive Lambda at p<0.05. Qualitative data were analysed thematically with MAXQDA to contextualise service-delivery experiences and retention decisions.

resultsRespondents (n=376; age 21-65years) were predominantly middle-aged, female, married, tertiary educated and employed as civil servants, with most reporting access to healthcare. Overall, 61.8% of enrollees were satisfied with NHIS services, and satisfaction strongly predicted willingness to retain membership (Χ

conclusionsThis single-centre mixed-methods study shows that while nearly two-thirds of NHIS enrollees were satisfied with the quality and affordability of scheme-provided services, persistent service-delivery gaps and administrative bottlenecks undermine retention intentions. Policy adjustments that prioritise improving service delivery, addressing administrative inefficiencies and strengthening provider-patient relationships are likely to enhance satisfaction and retention within the NHIS. These findings also offer practical insights for the design and scaling of community-based health insurance and related service-delivery reforms in similar mixed urban-rural settings, and for advancing equity-focused progress towards universal health coverage and related Sustainable Development Goals.

Indexed as

Community-Based Health InsuranceNational Health ProgramsPatient SatisfactionTertiary Care CentersAdultAgedFemaleHealth PolicyHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedNigeriaQualitative ResearchYoung AdultCommunity-Based Health Insurance (CBHI)National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)Quality of careRetentionSatisfaction

Identifiers

PMID41527049
PMCPMC12983586

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.