Inclusive insurance Understanding the financial coping strategies for health expenses of low-Income households in Dakar

Health and low-income households in Dakar: what listening to families reveals

On behalf of AXA EssentiALL and AXA Senegal, Archipel&Co followed 15 low-income families in Dakar using the financial diaries method. The aim was to understand their health needs, practices and trade-offs before designing an insurance offer.

Four findings challenge several common assumptions.

Families postpone care rather than forgo it. When they lack immediate funds, they delay seeking care until they can gather the money, by turning to relatives and friends or drawing on their savings.

Trust matters more than price. When choosing a healthcare facility, trust often outweighs cost or proximity.

Traditional medicine is rarely used. The urban households interviewed make relatively little use of it, again because of a lack of trust.

Insurance is seen as relevant but hard to access. Low uptake has less to do with a poor image than with access barriers and a cost often seen as too high. Insurance is in fact viewed as useful and reassuring.

Trust connects all four findings: it shapes the choice of hospital, the reliance on relatives and the relationship with insurance.

This assignment reflects a core conviction of ours: inclusion starts with a detailed understanding of people’s needs, practices and constraints. On this basis, we support companies seeking to combine growth in new markets with tangible improvements to everyday life, by facilitating access to essential goods and services.

A huge thank you to AXA EssentiALL and AXA Senegal for their trust !