GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED HEALTH FACILITIES AND ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTH SERVICES IN UGANDA: A CASE STUDY OF KARUGUTU SUB-COUNTY NTOROKO DISTRICT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between governments supported health facilities and accessibility to health services in Karugutu Sub-County in Ntoroko District. In fulfilling this purpose, the study determined how health infrastructure affects the accessibility to health services; the extent to which human resource influences the accessibility to health services; the extent to which medical materials determine the accessibility to health services; and lastly, the extent to which financial resource availability affect the accessibility to health service in Karugutu Sub-County. The study was based on the physical and psychological needs theory. This theory emphasizes that participation of an individual in delivering and accessing services highly depends on their physical and psychological needs. Correlation and case study designs were used in this study and SLOVEN’s formula was also used to determine a sample size of 394 respondents from 25,500 total research populations and the sampling was done by the use of stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. Self-administered questionnaires, interview guides and observation check lists were used as research instruments for data collection and validity and reliability of research instruments were done using Content Validity Index and pre-testing. Both qualitative and quantitative data analyses were employed. Mean, standard deviations were employed to determine the extent of the variables while correlation matrix and regression model analysis were applied to establish the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable. Study findings reveal that the health infrastructure and human resource at Karugutu Sub-County were generally effective and this was verified by mean values of 2.78 and 2.61 that fall under effective in the rating scale respectively. However, medical facilities and financial resources were ineffectively rated with mean values of 2.43 and 2.39 respectively. Concerning the relationship between the independent variables (health infrastructure; human resource; medical facilities and financial resource) and level of accessibility to health centers, findings reveal that all the four independent variables have significant positive effect on accessibility to health services in the sub-county. . The study concluded that an improvement in the effectiveness of health infrastructure, human resource, medical facilities and financial resources can significantly boost the level of accessibility to health services in the sub-county. The study recommended multi-sectoral approach involving different stakeholders so as to boost the level of accessibility to health services in Karugutu Sub-County. Through this approach, the equipments that are lacking in public health centers can be equipped; there can be an improvement in numeration of human resources in the health centers; and health officials can be motivated.