Needs for Health Insurance of Migrant Workers in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This research was a cross-sectional study aimed to explore the health insurance needs among mi­grant workers in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The studies samples were Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia migrant workers working in Muang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province alto­gether 340 samples. They were selected by accidental sampling method. Data collection was performed with the interviewed questionnaire which was approved for content validity by 3 experts and found that the IOC was 0.92 and the alpha-cronbach coefficients were 0.66, 0.87, and 0.94. Data were collected during June to October 2017, and were analyzed by using frequency statistics, percentage and binary logistic regression analysis with stepwise regression. The results revealed that majority of the migrant workers (93.2%) expressed their need to have health insurance; and Myanmar workers had 3.998 times higher need than other nationalities. The migrant workers receiving health insurance from their employers had 0.296 time health insurance need when compared to other health insurance schemes; and their per­ceived benefit of health insurance was 11.068 times when compared to non-perceived benefit of having the insurance. This study recommended that the government should create channels for public relation system to promote literacy on the benefits and accessibility to health insurance system for all migrant workers.