Knowledge, Attitude and Uptake of Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigated knowledge, attitude and uptake of the formal sector social health insurance programme (FSSHIP), a social health insurance pool of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) designed for federal civil servants in Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative research design to achieve its objectives using federal civil servants in Akwa Ibom State as its population. A purposive sampling technique was adopted in the study and structured interview was used to generate primary data for the study. The thematic analysis method was used in analyzing the data. The result revealed that federal civil servants in Akwa Ibom State were aware of the National Health Insurance Scheme and equally demonstrated a positive attitude towards the Scheme. However, it was discovered that the level of uptake of the National Health Insurance scheme was very low. It was therefore recommended, among others, that sensitization that targets increasing utilization should be conducted for enrollees by the relevant stakeholders, while the scheme should be adequately funded to ensure quality service delivery.