Abstract:
The study examined access to and utilization of health care facilities in the
Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Upper Denkyira districts of the Central Region.
Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the two districts capitals
and 15 other settlements in the two districts. In all 17 settlements, seven from
Upper Denkyira and 10 from Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam were selected. Four
hundred and twenty respondents from UDD and 380 from AEED were included
in the study. Questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended
items were administered to the 800 respondents. Using Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) and STATA the collected data were analysed and output
displayed in frequencies, percentages and binary logistic regression. It emerged
that both orthodox and non-orthodox facilities were available and operated
along-side each other. Again, among orthodox facilities, drug stores were the
most widely used. It also emerged that socio-demographic characteristics such
as sex, age, occupation, formal level of education, income, marital and
residential status of heads of households influenced the choice of health care
facilities in both districts. Diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, typhoid and skin
rashes were some of the diseases reported. However, malaria was the major.
Disease reported. Even though the districts differed in their levels of
development, use of health care facilities were similar. It is recommended that
more health care facilities be provided in order to increase access to health care
services. For instance, more CHPS compound could be provided in rural areas
to help increase their access to orthodox medicine.
