Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Utilization Of Public Health Facilities By Rural Population: An Original Research

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to assess various factors which affect the utilization of many public health facilities by rural population.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in a rural area where 80% of population dependant on farming. Data were collected from 195 household heads administering a structured questionnaire. The study applies principal component analysis (PCA) for determining the factors that affect health care services utilization.

Results: Need factors (chronic diseases, disability, child sickness, and old aged parents) play the pivotal role to utilize the health care services. The second important factor that contributes to access to health care services is enabling factors consisting of income, distance to the nearest health care center, health cards/health insurance etc. The predisposing factors i.e. age, sex, religion, occupation and education have the least significant role in utilizing health care services.

Conclusion: Utilization of health care services depends mostly on the perception and attitudes of people towards disease and disability. So, policy interventions should be taken to raise awareness among people along with regular monitoring of the activities of health care providers.