Main Article Content
Gender differences in public perceptions on National Health Insurance
Abstract
suggests that it is an unpopular policy. The evidence presented in this paper is to the contrary.
Objectives. To assess the general public’s opinion on NHI and to explore gender differences in perceptions.
Methods. This paper reports on findings from a 2010 cross-sectional nationally representative survey of the South African population that assessed social attitudes, including perceptions on NHI. Sex-disaggregated data were analysed in SPSS version 20.
Results and conclusions. There is broad public acceptance of NHI, indicating that an overwhelming majority of South Africans would prefer an NHI system to the current two-tiered system. Support for NHI has increased since similar studies in 2005 and 2008, with the simultaneous growth of public discourse on the policy. More females than males support NHI, reflecting the potential of the NHI system to have a positive impact on gender equality and the health of women and girls.