ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE UTILISATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AT OGBAKU COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTRE IN IMO STATE.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background to the study: This research was based on the assessment of factors affecting
utilization of health services at Ogbaku comprehensive health centre in Imo state.
Aim: Specifically, the study was aimed at examining the level of utilization and availability of the
primary health centre among residents in the area.
Objective: The study was anchored on health belief model theory which is concerned with
health related behaviors, particularly in terms of health care utilization.
Methodology: It used survey research method and questionnaire was administered to 300
respondents who are residents of Ogbaku local government area in Imo state. A sum of 299
questionnaires where returned and all where validated and used as the sample size for the
study. A simple random sampling technique was used. The study found out factors affecting the
utilization of health services at Ogbaku comprehensive health care which include; poverty,
ability and propensity to use services ,geographic area of residence, race and ethnicity,
disability status, poor availability of health care facilities, and long waiting in the health care
facilities organization of services or work processes; insufficient equipment, supplies,
infrastructure; inadequate staffing; and low health workers motivation are among many others
that causes the health facility inefficiencies in Ogbaku comprehensive health care.
Result: The study showed a significant relationship between Educational status and satisfactory
rate of utilization of health care services in Ogbaku comprehensive health center with a X2 =
30.98 and a P value < 0.005 was noted. Other variables showed no significant relationship with
the satisfactory rates of utilization of health care services with a P value > 0.005, thus making
the Null Hypothesis accepted. Majority (59.3%) of the respondents lie within the age range of
31-50 while the lowest age range was 51 and above. 89.4% of them are Christian. 49% of them
are married and 38.7% are single. The occupation of the respondents is: civil servants (28.5%)
businessmen (23.2%), traders (17.9%) and others. Majority of them (57.6%) are females and
most (36.8%) of them has secondary level of education and a good number of them (34.1%) has
tertiary level of education.
Conclusion: The health centre at Ogbaku is underutilized.
Recommendation: The government should make health insurance available to the people by
subsidizing their health bill and thus reducing the financial burden of individuals and equipping
of staff to be more Empathic and welcoming.
KEYWORDS: Imo State, Assessment, health care utilization, Rural community
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