Factors influencing out patient department (OPD) attendance in Ho-shia sub-district public health
Loading...
Date
2004-11-17
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The outpatient Department (OPD) is the eye of every health facility and the patients judge the standard of the health facility by the care they receive at the OPD. This could reflect in the utilization of the health facility.
Past studies in Ghana have shown that outpatient attendance continues to increase proportionately with the increase in the population of Ghana. However, the contrary was observed by the DHMT of Ho District, which found out that the OPD attendance in the district has been declining for the past four years. The DHMT has attached importance to this falling OPD attendance, therefore requested that the factors influencing OPD attendance and their extent of influence be reviewed. This will enable them provide recommendations to improve attendance in public health facilities.
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study units were selected purposively using extreme case strategy and the respondents were selected using simple random sampling. Structured Interview guide was used to interview the selected individuals.
The data were coded and analyzed using SPSS. Part of the data was also analyzed manually.
The study results revealed that public health facilities were geographically and financially accessible to the people. However, a reasonable proportion of the respondents live more than 1km from where they seek treatment.
Socio-cultural values and beliefs had no influence on OPD attendance, as there were no social or cultural values/beliefs preventing respondents from using orthodox medicine. In addition, outreach services and drug peddlers’ activities had no influence. Although, there were different types of health providers in the communities studied, orthodox medicine was preferred. Majority of the respondents (88.4%) were satisfied with the services provided at the public health facilities. Meanwhile, a reasonable proportion (41.3%) was not issued with receipts covering their expenses at the health centre level. The users of the district hospital suggested that staff change their attitude towards patients by showing them respect and patience.
Based on the results, the following conclusions were drawn. The main causes of falling OPD attendance are facility-related. These were poor attitude of health staff towards patients (14.4%), lack of valid receipts covering expenses (41.3%) and health staff not at post (26.5%).
The recommendations among others provided to DHMT include close supervision to ensure that valid receipt are issued to patients, drugs as well as other materials are used for their purpose, management should encourage staff to show respect, patience and care for patients.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the school of Graduate Studies (Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi) in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the MSc.
Degree in Health Services Planning and Management, 2004