Determinants of paediatric health services utilization at Daeyang Luke Hospital, Lilongwe - Malawi
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Date
2016-11-01
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Abstract
Health service utilization is crucial for the survival of under-five children. Underutilization of health services is associated with increased number of deaths among under-five children. There was a decline in paediatric health services utilization by under-five children from Daeyang Luke Hospital (DLH) catchment area between the years 2011 and 2013. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the determinants of utilization of paediatric health services at the hospital. Andersen model of health service utilization was used to guide the study. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative design for data collection and analysis. A semistructured questionnaire was used to interview parents or guardians of under-five children. The results showed that 97 % (n=146) of parents and guardians had knowledge about the services that are offered at DLH, 98 % (n=147) had good health seeking behaviours in times of sickness of their under-five children, 70 % (n=105) were living within a distance of five kilometers from DLH and 80 percent of the respondents reported good waiting time at the hospital. However, the study also revealed inconsistence in utilization of paediatric services at DLH. Logistic regression analysis yielded significant results in marital status, religion, waiting time, distance, service
delivery, bills and distance. Service delivery had almost five times likelihood of influencing
service utilization (odds ratio 4.6). Just over half (53%) of parents or guardians could not afford to pay for the cost of care. Therefore, the results warrant the need to subsidize the cost of care to under-five children living within Daeyang catchment area, in order to enhance health service utilization.