Reasons for the Low Utilization of Public Sector Health Facilities in the Kintampo District: A Community Based Study.

Abstract

Low utilization of health services is a common problem in developing countries. In Ghana, the Ministry of health has set a target of 0.3-0.5 per capita outpatient attendance to be achieved over a five-year period. Resources are being provided to all health facilities to enable them achieve the target by 2001. However, in the Kintampo district the outpatient attendance has consistently fallen short of the expected yearly targets. This study examines the reasons for low outpatient attendance at public sector health facilities, using secondary data from health facility records and a survey of adults within the district. A random sample of 184 adults were selected from the eight sub district capitals and interviewed. It was found in the study that outpatient attendance for clinical services was particularly low in seven out of the eight sub-districts. Other findings showed that proximity to health facility, presence of a doctor, availability of drugs and treatment outcome are the reasons for people attending public sector health facilities; whilst the cost of services, type of illness suffered by clients, and low income are the reasons for non-attendance. It can thus be concluded that in rural areas where income levels are low, increasing cost of services to the patient within public sector health facilities and the type of illness suffered may be the major reasons for the low utilization of public sector health facilities. It is recommended that the district health managers should put in place adequate measures in the health facilities to prevent illegal fees, which adds to the cost of services borne by patients. In addition, efforts should be made to attract more staff to the rural areas; and incentive packages combined with an educational campaign for the communities to report promptly to the health facilities any illness suffered