Utilisation of Health Care Services in the Obuasi Municipality

Abstract

Globally, attention and investments towards demand-side strategies to enhance health care utilisation have improved over the years. Despite this significant investment in health care, its utilisation is far from adequate. Against this backdrop, this study examined the utilisation of health services in the Obuasi Municipality. Drawing on Kroeger’s (1983) health behavioural model, it specifically examined the incidence of major diseases and people’s perception about disease causation. The study also assessed the kinds of health facilities often utilised by different socio-economic groups and factors influencing the use of these health facilities in the Obuasi Municipality. Lastly, the modes through which people in the study area finance their health care were also examined. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used in selecting 210 respondents for a household survey whiles a respondents for the qualitative facet of the study were purposively selected. The study reports that malaria is the most prevalent disease among diseases reported by the respondents. Respondents gave much credence to the natural aetiological model and the epidemiological triad of disease causation. The study showed higher utilisation of hospitals and health clinics than health centres and traditional health centres. The proximity of health facilities, quality of health services rendered, adequacy of equipment and personnel, social accessibility are some of the factors that influence utilisation of specific health facilities in the Obuasi Municipality. Nonetheless, the study reports self-medication as a significant intervening health care resource whereas NHIS, out-of-pocket and private insurance are the main modes of health care financing in the study area. The study concludes that there is a direct positive link between perceived morbidity, illness response, access to and use of health care services, as reported by Kroeger (1983). The study therefore recommends a revamp of most of the health facilities and provision of mobile or outreach clinical services to dispersed rural communities, which do not have the threshold population to merit Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS).