Factors influencing young adults decisions to purchase private health insurance in Uganda

Abstract

This study focuses on a specific segment: young adults (18-35) with the highest uninsurance rates. It aims to pinpoint the reasons behind their lack of private health insurance coverage. It investigates the influence of socioeconomic status education level, residence, perceived health, marital status, and knowledge about health insurance on young adults' decisions to purchase insurance. Binary logistic regression in Stata using Firth procedure was used to analyze data from 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The study revealed key findings related to young adults and health insurance. First, they tend to have low health insurance literacy, meaning they may struggle to understand and navigate health insurance options. Second young adults with higher levels of education likely possess a greater understanding of health risks and the financial benefits of private insurance. Additionally, the research identified several barriers to coverage for young adults, including limited access in rural areas. These insights can be valuable for the National Health Insurance Scheme in developing strategies to better serve this population