[Does mutual health insurance reproduce health inequalities in Benin?].

Introduction: The factors leading to exclusion of a part of the population from mutual health insurance were studied by examining the profile of members, the social dynamics and the mode of functioning of this type of health insurance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Parakou; Benin by selecting 50 patients from three healthcare centres selected at random from the ten "Réseau des Soins Coordonnés" centres. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with mutual health insurance beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.

Results: Thirty-seven of the 50 patients did not have any mutual health insurance and 35 of them were under the age of 35 years with a female predominance (23 out of 37) with a low monthly income (less than CFA30,000). Factors such as group dynamics, the feeling of belonging to a group and confidence in mutual insurance management committees were related to the presence or absence of mutual health insurance.

Conclusion: In the absence of universal health insurance coverage in Benin, mutual health insurance constitutes almost the only solution for populations, but few people take out this insurance. Consequently, the contribution of mutual health insurance in this region of Benin to access to healthcare remains marginal, as the most deprived populations cannot afford this insurance.