Abstract:

The National Youth Service Corps scheme is a mandatory one-year programme for Nigerian graduates aimed at fostering national unity, youth development, and community service. In 2022, the Federal Government introduced a national health insurance initiative, known as the Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme-n, to cater for the healthcare needs of corps members. This study evaluated the utilisation of health services among corps members under the programme in Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 415 corps members in Rivers State, Nigeria, using a pretested, self-administered, anonymous, structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics (frequency tables and cross-tabulations) were used to summarise the data, while inferential statistics to test for association between variables were done using the chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 24 and 26 years, with a mean age of 25.9 ± 2.4 years. Outpatient services (85.3%), laboratory/radiological investigations (76.6%), and gynaecological services (15.4%) were the most commonly accessed services. Female corps members reported higher utilisation rates compared to males. This study provides baseline insights into healthcare service utilisation under the national health insurance programme among corps members in Rivers State and recommends further research to inform policy, improve programme effectiveness, and enhance healthcare delivery for corps members and the wider Nigerian population.

References:

[1].   National Youth Service Corps Act, 2004, Cap N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

[2].   National Youth Service Corps, 2021, Guidelines for mobilisation of graduates into national service [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.nysc.gov.ng/mobguide.html

[3].   Marenin, O., 1990, Implementing deployment policies in the National Youth Service Corps of Nigeria: Goals and constraints. Comparative Political Studies, 22(4), 397–436.

[4].   National Youth Service Corps, 2022, The National Youth Service Year: An overview [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.nysc.gov.ng/serviceyear.html

[5].   National Youth Service Corps, 2017, About the scheme [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.nysc.gov.ng/serviceyear.html

[6].   National Youth Service Corps, 2017, Corps Welfare and Health Services Department [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.nysc.gov.ng/cwi.html

[7].   National Youth Service Corps, 2022, Enrollment of corps members into NHIS–NYSC Group Individual Family Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP-n) [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.nysc.gov.ng/nhis2.html

[8].   Daramola, O. E., & Awunor, N. S., 2023, Health insurance for National Youth Service Corps members: A step in the right direction for Nigeria, from policy to practice. Journal of Health Applied Sciences and Management, 7(1), 63–66.

[9].   The Whistler, 2023, 400,000 graduates participate in NYSC scheme annually – Official [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://thewhistler.ng/nysc-400000-graduates-participate-in-scheme-annually-official/

[10].  National Telescope, 2023, NYSC enrolls 400,000 corps members annually – DG [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://nationaltelescope.com/nysc-enrols-400000-corps-members-annually-dg /

[11].  Ngugi, A. K., Agoi, F., Mahoney, M. R., Lakhani, A., Mang'ong'o, D., Nderitu, E., et al., 2017, Utilisation of health services in a resource-limited rural area in Kenya: Prevalence and associated household-level factors. PLoS ONE, 12(2), e0172728.

[12].  Rivers State Government, 2022, [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.riversstate.gov.ng/

[13].  City Population, 2022, Rivers State, Nigeria [Internet]. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA033__rivers/

[14].  Bolarinwa, O. A., 2020, Sample size estimation for health and social science researchers: The principles and considerations for different study designs. Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 27, 67–75.

[15].  Michael, G. C., Grema, B. A., Aliyu, I., et al., 2020, Awareness, knowledge, and perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme among National Youth Service Corps members in Kano, Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 61(4), 201–205.

[16].  Emorinken, A., Aikhuomogbe, O., Eigbe, B., Usman, S., & Isuekebhor, C., 2022, Morbidity pattern at the National Youth Service Corps camps in Nigeria. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 9, 4384–4390.

[17].  Odega, C. C., & Mofolorunsho, K. C., 2020, Prevalence of ailments in a youth camp in southern Nigeria. Central African Journal of Public Health, 6(6), 346–350.

[18].  Amoko, A., Ayodapo, A. O., Dele, T. O., & Abitare, H., 2021, The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and associated factors among Nigerians newly posted for National Youth Service Corps programme in North-Western Nigeria. Research Journal of Health Sciences, 9(3), 236–244.

[19].  Daramola, O. E., Adesina, C. T., Abu, J. M., & Akande, T. M., 2019, Health services utilisation patterns among enrollees of the National Health Insurance Scheme at a tertiary health facility in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – Abuja, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice, 2(1), 25–32.

[20].  Daramola, O. E., Adesina, C. T., & Akande, T. M., 2019, Referral services under the National Health Insurance Scheme: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study in Abuja, Nigeria. World Journal of Innovative Research, 6(2), 134–138.

[21].  Ngo, A., Gandhi, P., & Miller, W. G., 2017, Frequency that laboratory tests influence medical decisions. Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, 1(4), 410–414.

[22].  Larson, D. B., & Langlotz, C. P., 2017, The role of radiology in the diagnostic process: Information, communication, and teamwork. American Journal of Roentgenology, 209(5), 992–1000.

[23].  Sule, S. T., Dieng, B., & Danmadami, A. M., 2023, Reproductive health issues of concern among Nigerians: An online survey. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 11(1), 104–110.

[24].  Ogedegbe, A. E., et al., 2025, Two decades of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria: Successes, challenges, and opportunities. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 29(1), 25–37.

[25].  Ojo, T. O., Owoseni, M. O., Abiodun, O., Bamidele, E. F., Sodeinde, K., Ogunkoya, J. O., et al. 2022, A review of morbidity pattern among undergraduate law students that accessed healthcare at a private university clinic in South-west, Nigeria. Journal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, 34(1), 111–127.