AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF ORANGE HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME (ORANGHIS) AS DETERMINANTS OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS AT UNIMEDTH, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Objective: Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and a critical element of social welfare. Globally, over half of the population lacks access to essential health services, with approximately 100 million people pushed into extreme poverty annually due to healthcare expenditure. In Nigeria, Health Insurance Schemes (HIS) were introduced to improve access to medical care and reduce out-of-pocket spending. However, several challenges, such as low enrolment, inadequate funding, and poor service delivery have hindered their effectiveness. Additionally, many civil servants remain unaware of the benefits of health insurance schemes or how to utilize them effectively, leading to underutilization of available services. This study evaluated the level of awareness and utilization of the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) among civil servants at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo State, Nigeria, and how these factors influence healthcare access. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The study population consisted of 1,053 civil servants at UNIMEDTH. A sample size of 400 was calculated using Taro Yamane's formula. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants across professional categories. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire with high internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha for awareness = 0.98; utilization = 0.97; healthcare access = 0.96).