"Women are traditionally caregivers": Social Health Protection and Contributions in the Kom Ethnic Community of Cameroon

Background: In Cameroon, poverty and out-of-pocket payment policies limit equitable access to healthcare. Community-based health insurance schemes, like the Boyo Mutual Health Organization (Boyo MHO), aim to address these challenges. However, women’s roles in health insurance provisioning remain underexplored despite their significant contributions as caregivers and informal healthcare providers, particularly in rural contexts. Methods: This qualitative study, guided by a feminist perspective, investigated women’s involvement in health insurance delivery in the Fundong Health District. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with purposively selected participants. The analysis focused on cultural, financial, and gendered dimensions of health insurance participation. Results: Findings revealed that women play indispensable roles in family health insurance, including enrollment, adherence, and benefit reclamation. However, cultural norms, gendered power dynamics, and financial constraints limit their leadership in health insurance advocacy and provisioning. These dynamics align with feminist critiques by Nancy Fraser and Joan Acker, highlighting systemic inequities and gendered organizational structures. Conclusions: Addressing cultural biases and promoting gender-sensitive policies are critical to empowering women and enhancing their contributions to health insurance systems. Recognizing and integrating women’s caregiving roles into formal structures can improve healthcare access and outcomes. Further research across diverse regions of Cameroon is essential to inform inclusive health policy frameworks and ensure women’s roles in healthcare are acknowledged and supported.