Evaluation of Medical Services Untilization: A Case of Kimwanyi Health Center II, Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda.
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2024-07-19
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Abstract
Providing quality medical services to patients is an ideal that every healthcare institution hopes to achieve since it has many benefits (Bazrafcan et al., 2015). A study was carried out to evaluate medical services utilization. A case of Kimwanyi Health Center II, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda. The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional and it employed quantitative data collection methods. A sample size of 60 respondents was selected using a convenience sampling procedure. An interview guide was used to collect data. The study found various socio-economic factors affecting medical services utilization. Although all the respondents 60 (100%) were aware and had ever attended the health care services provided at Kimwanyi Health Center II, 40 (66.7%) of respondents were not aware of the dangers of poor health-seeking behavior for medical services, 40 (67%) did not receive adequate support and encouragement from their partners to ensure access to health care services, 36 (60%) had never been health educated about home treatment for illnesses, 24 (40%) respondents resided 4 – 5 km away from Health Center and 24 (40%) respondents spent between 5000 – 10,000shs on transport to the health facility, yet 50 (83.3%) reported that lack of money for transport as a factor affecting medical services utilization. Results also revealed various health worker-related factors affecting medical services utilization as 40 (67%) reported that health workers had bad behavior towards patients, 40 (67%) reported that health workers had negative attitudes during the provision of medical services, 20 (33.3%) reported over conversing and unwelcoming health workers and 16 (26.7%) reported inefficient and slow health staff. Results showed various health facility factors affecting medical services utilization and although 24 (40%) respondents rated the quality of medical care received the last time they used the health care services as very good, 22 (36.7%) spent 30 minutes to 1 hour, 16 (26.7%) spent more than 4 hours, 36 (60%) reported that Kimwanyi Health Center II is not accessible from their homes, 24 (40%) were sometimes able to get all the required services and medication. In conclusion, respondents faced various socio-economic, health worker, and health facility factors affecting medical services utilization. The key recommendations included improved customer care, ready availability of services, and ready availability of medication among others.
Keywords: Medical services utilization; Socio-economic factors; Health worker-related factors.
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Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.