Community health insurance schemes have emerged as a critical strategy to improve access to healthcare in Rwanda, particularly for underserved populations such as pregnant women and new mothers. A longitudinal qualitative approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 50 participants who were members of a specific community health insurance scheme over two years. Data collection methods included focus group discussions (n=12) and document analysis (n=30). The findings indicate that the majority (85%) of respondents reported reduced financial burden due to lower out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare services, particularly in prenatal care. Community health insurance schemes have significantly enhanced maternal health coverage by mitigating financial barriers and increasing access to essential healthcare services. Policy makers should consider expanding community health insurance programmes to cover a broader spectrum of healthcare needs among pregnant women and new mothers.
Umunyiuyisimbi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.