Determinants of Healthcare Facilities and Services Utilisation among the Aged: Evidence from Yamoransa in Ghana
Keywords:
Determinants, Health care Facilities, Socio-Economic and Demographic Variables, Utilisation of Healthcare Services, Yamoransa, GhanaAbstract
The aged are usually infected with chronic diseases and other health problems, but healthcare services/facilities for them are limited particularly in developing countries. Invariably, they encounter many challenges in their search for treatments, but few gerontological studies about healthcare facilities/services utilisation have been conducted in Ghana. This article assesses the socio-economic and demographic variables associated with the use of healthcare facilities/services among the aged, using Yamoransa in Ghana as the study setting. Andersen’s Behaviour Model of Health Services Use was applied as theoretical guide. Cross-sectional survey involving interview schedules was conducted for all the aged. The findings show significant preference for government healthcare facilities among the aged, because of their perception that services rendered in such health centres are more effective. Slight variations by sex and age were recorded in the use of healthcare services while ethnicity, formal education, and marriage were the main predisposing factors affecting utilisation of healthcare services. Maltreatment of patients by health service providers and ample time spent in healthcare centres discouraged subsequent use of healthcare services while availability of income based on type of occupation and subscription to health insurance also influenced the use of healthcare services among the aged.
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