Abstract:
The level of utilization of health care services in Uganda remains very low. The
low level negatively affects the quality of life of many Ugandans who remain
outside the health care delivery system when ill. This descriptive cross sectional
study was carried out to establish the level of utilization of health care services
among residents of Luweero district and to determine what factors promote or
hinder use of health care services in the formal health care system. The study was
also carried out to establish the types of health facilities through which people got
care. Consumer attributes, provider practices and social economic factors that
influence health care seeking decisions were explored. Findings from this study
show that whereas 82.0% (n=373) of the respondents sought some form of care,
only 47% (n=176) of the people sought and got it from a health facility.
Effectively, only 38.7% of the respondents got care from a health facility. The
contribution of the public sector to direct delivery of health care services was 30%
while private sector was 70%. These proportions indicate a decline from reported
levels in the late 1980s of 56% for the public sector and an increase from 41 % for
the private sector.
;
The finding that 47% of the people sought care from health facilities and of these
only 30% (n=52) went to public facilities means that the public sector effectively
provides health care to 11 % of the individuals who fall sick. Presence of a chronic
condition (68.7%), perception of health status in comparison to others (51.5%),
severity of the illness (50.9%), marital status and level of income were found to
influence health care seeking behavior (p-value<0.05). Perceptions about cause of
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disease and knowledge of services available were also found to influence health
care seeking behavior. Credibility of health facilities and caring attitude of health
care workers (56.8%), and availability of drugs and supplies were found to enhance
health care seeking decisions. Lack of financial means and distance
