The Role of Community-Based Health Insurance in Empowerment of Women’s Health and Economic Rights in Ethiopia

Abstract

The guarantee of fundamental health and economic rights and the role of gender equality are still relevant and quotidian topics, especially in developing countries. Despite the constitutional guarantees within the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, women’s status remains significantly lower than men’s, primarily due to lower income, limited access to education, and various social constraints. Due to the absence of social security, health insurance and lack of financial autonomy and self-sufficiency, females often could not access healthcare independently. This situation is changing for women and their families in Ethiopia. The study aims to assess the role of community-based health insurance (CBHI) in fostering the health and economic empowerment of women’s rights. The CBHI proves to be an effective means of social security that boosts the provision of health services to members of susceptible peoples, which can improve health knowledge, preventative healthcare measures, and maternal and child mortality rates. This initiative can considerably increase women’s access to healthcare services while also providing them with chances for economic empowerment. Those women who are CBHI members spend less on healthcare (reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures), allowing them to increase household income and allocate more resources towards other household expenses or savings. Due to the enrolment, women and other parts of their families have the opportunity for decision-making power and freedom to decide about their health because of financial constraints. Increasing access to the CBHI programs and ensuring that these are accessible to all women and other marginalised communities can help address gender disparities in healthcare access and economic opportunities, ultimately leading to a more equitable society.