Trapped by debt: an ethnographic study of medical indebtedness and hospital detention in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon

Addressing medical debt and hospital detention requires a multifaceted policy response. Recommendations include eliminating maternal user fees, expanding health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations, protecting hospital-based social assistance, and replacing detention with legal safeguards and social mediation. Additionally, culturally sensitive financial literacy and mental health support programs are vital. Long-term investment in health infrastructure and governance is essential to reduce out-of-pocket spending and ensure equitable, rights-based healthcare access.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Public Health
Published
2025-08-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1602798
Primary Topic
Global Maternal and Child Health
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Trapped by debt: an ethnographic study of medical indebtedness and hospital detention in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon

Ngambouk Vitalis Pemunta, Mathias Alubafi Fubah, Brendabell Ebanga Njee, Vidarah Nimar et al.
Frontiers in Public Health
Global Maternal and Child Health
article

Trapped by debt: an ethnographic study of medical indebtedness and hospital detention in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon

Ngambouk Vitalis Pemunta, Mathias Alubafi Fubah, Brendabell Ebanga Njee, Vidarah Nimar, Cybel Nji Angwe, Tom Obara Bosire, Nguyen Ngoc Bich Tram, Ashangwa Constantine Tanywe, Womma Habiba Hira, Maurine Ekun Nyok
article en

Abstract

Addressing medical debt and hospital detention requires a multifaceted policy response. Recommendations include eliminating maternal user fees, expanding health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations, protecting hospital-based social assistance, and replacing detention with legal safeguards and social mediation. Additionally, culturally sensitive financial literacy and mental health support programs are vital. Long-term investment in health infrastructure and governance is essential to reduce out-of-pocket spending and ensure equitable, rights-based healthcare access.

Frontiers in Public HealthVol. 13
Human Sciences Research Council (ZA), Budapest University of Economics and Business (HU), Université de Yaoundé I (CM), Covenant University (NG), University of the Free State (ZA), Ministry of Public Health (CM), Minnesota Department of Health (US), Nordic School of Public Health (SE), University of Hradec Králové (CZ), University of Glasgow (GB), University of Gothenburg (SE)
International Development Research Centre
Openalex Percentile: Top 69%
Global Maternal and Child Health
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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Trapped by debt: an ethnographic study of medical indebtedness and hospital detention in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon — Ngambouk Vitalis Pemunta, Mathias Alubafi Fubah, et al. · Frontiers in Public Health (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS