Health-seeking behaviour and decision making processes of people in a low-resource setting : experiences with free, quality, healthcare in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone
Document type: mthesis
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Abstract:
PROBLEM STATEMENT: After the abolition of under-5 user fees at the Magbenteh Hospital (a mid-sized rural hospital in the interior of Sierra Leone) an unprecedented increase in outpatient attendances was seen. Data from neighbouring health facilities and literature from other countries show a similar trend. The aim of this study was to learn more about the health-seeking behaviour and the decision making process of people visiting the Magbenteh Hospital with their child. METHODS/RESULTS: A mixed-methods approach of quantitative and qualitative data from a small-scale study set in the Magbenteh Hospital was used. Caretakers visiting the under-5 clinic were asked to complete a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were taken from some of the caretakers admitted with their child at the paediatric ward. Over a period of 3 weeks, 814 people participated in the study by filling out questionnaires and 8 interviews were held. CONCLUSION: This study showed that cost was not the main reason for people to come to the hospital, but that many factors, of which good quality of medicine and care was the most important, played an important role in the decision to go to a certain health facility. High cost could very well have been the reason for people not to come previously and so can still be considered as one of the main barriers to accessing healthcare. Word of mouth also contributed to the increase in attendances and can be used as a tool for spreading healthrelated messages.
Authors:
Hugen, B.J.
Country:
Sierra Leone
Category:
Research
Department:
Development Policy & Practice
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Keywords:
health services
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
vi, 39
Year:
2010
Region:
West Africa
Right:
© 2010 Hugen
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
Health-seeking behaviour and decision making processes of people in a low-resource setting : experiences with free, quality, healthcare in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone
Training:
Master in International Health (MIH)