Browsing by Author "Mpuuga, Dablin"
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Item Challenges Faced by Adolescent Girls in Urban Areas of Uganda and the Case for Targeted Social Protection Programmes(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Mugume, Regean; Atwine, Blessing; Mpuuga, DablinAdolescent girls in urban areas of Uganda suffer unique challenges that affect their safe transition to adulthood. These challenges include;early school dropout, domestic and sexual violence, child labour and exploitation, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, among others. These vulnerabilities increase social and economic exclusion and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent measures to slow down its spread, for instance, the countrywide lockdown and the school closures. This policy brief provides a snapshot of the unique challenges faced by adolescent girls in urban areas and makes the case for transformative social protectionprogrammes that address structural barriers to the economic and social inclusion of adolescent girls. In light of the findings, the brief recommends the need for community sensitization against sexual and physical abuse, and enforcement of laws to protect adolescent girls in urban settings.Item Determinants of Demand for Health Insurance in Uganda: An Analysis of Utilisation and Willingness to Pay(Tanzanian Economic Review, 2020) Mpuuga, Dablin; Yawe, Bruno L.; Muwanga, JamesHealth insurance is increasingly being recognized in Uganda as an effective way of protecting people against catastrophic health expenditures. However, only 5 percent of Ugandans hold health insurance, and only 42 percent would consider joining any health insurance scheme. It is in this regard that this study sought to examine the determinants of demand for health insurance in Uganda. After applying a logistic model on Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) data of 2016/17, the results reveal that awareness is a very crucial factor in determining demand for health insurance, and that most Ugandans are not aware of health insurance as a mode of paying for medical care. The results further reveal that although most of the people suffering from non-communicable diseases are willing to pay for health insurance, very few have health insurance in this regard. Generally, willingness to pay does not translate into actual utilisation of health insurance. Thus, the study recommends the promotion of awareness about health insurance, increasing the literacy levels of Ugandans through education, promoting poverty reduction and income enhancing programs, as well as urgently implementing a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).Item How improving quality and standards in the Ugandan fish value chain impacts sustainable development of decent jobs(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Mpuuga, Dablin; Guloba, Madina M.This brief shows how quality assurance along the fish value chain is critical in ensuring that youth and women have sustainable decent jobs, economic transformation, and fostering agro-industrialisation in Uganda. Findings from the Fish Baraza reveal that, despite the increased participation of both youth and women in the fish value chain, there is continuous adulteration and mishandling of Fish, adversely affecting quality and, consequently, the market for fish. The brief recommends deliberate sensitisation of women and youth to create awareness on the cost of mishandling the fish at the production phase, increasing the number of fish quality control officers to monitor standards, and investing in affordable techniques to enhance quality and standards. Such measures will ensure sustainability of employment of youth and women in the various fish value chains (silver fish, Nile perch and Tilapia).Item Limited health insurance coverage amidst upsurge of non-communicable diseases in Uganda(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2019) Mpuuga, Dablin; Mbowa, Swaibu; Odokonyero, TonnyThis brief uses the 2016/17 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) and the World Development Indicators (WDI) to show the extent of health insurance coverage for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases among others. Results indicate that: (i) NDCs affect people of all socio-economic groups; (ii) more Ugandans suffering from NCDs are willing to pay for health insurance, but very few are holders of insurance policies in this regard; (iii) other diseases like malaria are more easily insured compared to NCDs, an indication that the providers of health insurance services are not keen to insure sufferers of NCDs; (iv) there are regional differences in health insurance coverage as well as prevalence of NCDs, with the burden of NCDs more intense in the Bukedi, Busoga and Teso sub-regions, whereas NCDs are least prevalent in Kigezi and Ankole sub-regionsand (v) NCDs are likely to erode gains in poverty reduction at household level, because it is equally high among poor households with the least capacity to afford health insurance. We there by, recommend establishing special screening centres for NCDs in public health facilities especially health center II’s and III’s. This will promote early detection and early treatment hence curbing expensive costs for treating severe and chronic NCDs. Preventive measures need to be emphasized as well. These include regular body exercises and monitored nutrition which all lower the risk of NCDs. We further suggest incorporating and prioritizing NCDs into the proposed national health insurance scheme.Item Limited health insurance coverage amidst upsurge of non-communicable diseases in Uganda(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2019) Mpuuga, Dablin; Mbowa, Swaibu; Odokonyero, TonnyThis brief uses the 2016/17 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) and the World Development Indicators (WDI) to show the extent of health insurance coverage for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases among others. Results indicate that: (i) NDCs affect people of all socio-economic groups; (ii) more Ugandans suffering from NCDs are willing to pay for health insurance, but very few are holders of insurance policies in this regard; (iii) other diseases like malaria are more easily insured compared to NCDs, an indication that the providers of health insurance services are not keen to insure sufferers of NCDs; (iv) there are regional differences in health insurance coverage as well as prevalence of NCDs, with the burden of NCDs more intense in the Bukedi, Busoga and Teso sub-regions, whereas NCDs are least prevalent in Kigezi and Ankole sub-regionsand (v) NCDs are likely to erode gains in poverty reduction at household level, because it is equally high among poor households with the least capacity to afford health insurance. We there by, recommend establishing special screening centres for NCDs in public health facilities especially health center II’s and III’s. This will promote early detection and early treatment hence curbing expensive costs for treating severe and chronic NCDs. Preventive measures need to be emphasized as well. These include regular body exercises and monitored nutrition which all lower the risk of NCDs. We further suggest incorporating and prioritizing NCDs into the proposed national health insurance scheme.Item Multi-Level Analysis of Health Care Demand in Uganda: Empirical Evidence from the National Household Survey – 2016/17(Tanzanian Economic Review, 2022) Nakiyingi, Stella; Mpuuga, DablinThis study examines determinants of health-care demand in Uganda, by estimating mixed-effects logistic regressions using data from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) - 2016/17. The study firstly compares the 2012/13 and 2016/17 UNHS data and finds that the demand for health care in Uganda has decreased, except for the sub-regions of Busoga, Central I, and Kigezi. Secondly, the results from a mixed-effects regression on the entire sample show that health-care demand at an individual level is associated with individual’s age, smoking habits, and non-communicable disease (NCD) status, whereas household size and poverty status determine health-care demand at the household level. Running separate models for each region to investigate regional peculiarities, the results show disparities in health-care demand among regions in Uganda. Therefore, to improve efficacy and health-care seeking behaviours of Ugandans, policies should recognize and be tailored to address individual, household as well as regional peculiarities.Item Uncovered Silent Killers: The Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Insurance Coverage in Uganda(African Journal of Economic Review, 2022) Mpuuga, Dablin; Eshete, Zerayehu SimeIn this paper, we investigate the extent of utilization and willingness to pay for health insurance in Uganda. Specifically, we examine the effect of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) on both utilization and willingness to pay for health insurance. We apply a binary logistic model on the 2016/17 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) data, and the results indicate that, individuals living with NCDs like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases, are less likely to utilize health insurance compared to those without such diseases. We also find that, although Ugandans suffering from NCDs are willing to pay for health insurance, very few are holders of health insurance policies. More precisely, their willingness to pay does not translate into actual uptake. The results further reveal that awareness about health insurance and wealth, are very crucial factors in an individual’s willingness to pay, as well as utilization of health insurance. Therefore, policies geared towards enhancing health insurance uptake will go a long way in ensuring protection against NCDs. Such policies have to mitigate both demand and supply hindrances to health insurance uptake. For instance, massive awareness programmes, poverty reduction and income enhancing programmes, as well as implementation of a national health insurance scheme.