Perceived Quality of the Health Insurance Services Provided by the Public-Sector Teachers’ Health Insurance Scheme (MESP), Teachers’ Health, and Teaching Practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study of Teachers’ and School Authorities’ Perspectives in Kinshasa and Kindu.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/gemc4w65Keywords:
MESP, healthcare quality, teachers, healthcare expenditure, social protection, teaching practices, Democratic Republic of the CongoAbstract
Introduction: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the quality of services provided by the Public-Sector Teachers’ Health Insurance Scheme (Mutuelle de Santé des Enseignants du Secteur Public, MESP) is an important concern.
Objective: To analyze the perceived quality of MESP services and their associations with access to healthcare, household expenditure, self-reported health, and reported professional and pedagogical implications in Kinshasa and Kindu, Maniema Province.
Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study combined questionnaires and interviews. The sample comprised 788 participants: 384 teachers affiliated with MESP in Kinshasa and 404 participants in Kindu, including 246 teachers, 154 students, and four inspectors. Quantitative data were analyzed statistically, while qualitative data were examined thematically.
Results: In Kinshasa, 72.4% of teachers reported overall satisfaction after joining MESP, compared with 26% before membership, while 72.9% reported an improvement in their economic situation. Average monthly healthcare expenditure was lower among regular users of MESP services than among other users (USD 15.4 versus USD 28.6; p < 0.001). However, 68.2% considered medical care unsatisfactory, 69.2% rated communication as average or poor, 65.8% reported taking more than one hour to access healthcare, and 63.8% indicated that services were unavailable outside regular operating hours. In Kindu, educational stakeholders expressed expectations regarding access to healthcare, transparency, financial protection, and continuity of teaching.
Conclusion: The findings suggest perceived benefits in terms of healthcare expenditure and overall satisfaction, while highlighting shortcomings in service accessibility, communication, and continuity. The health insurance scheme should improve service quality and transparency to ensure its long-term sustainability and promote the professionalization of its management.
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