ABSTRACT
The thrust o f this study w as to identify the factors w hich influence accessibility and
utilization o f health care facilities in the D angm e W est D istrict, and to find solutions
to problem s w hich w ere identified.
The study covered nine fully operational health centres and health posts in the district,
as well as random ly sam pled service providers such as nurses, personnel o f N G O s.
heads o f som e governm ent departm ents, opinion leaders and the district director of
health services.
The m ethod o f data collection was by structured questionnaires adm inistered to
patients, and interview guides w ere used to collect inform ation from the service
providers, opinion leaders, and the heads o f governm ent departm ents. T he data were
analysed using the SPSS and A rcV iew GIS softw are packages to determ ine
relationships and the spheres o f influence o f the health centres and posts.
The study show ed that factors w hich played im portant roles in accessibility and
utilisation o f the Prim ary H ealth Care (PH C) facilities in the D angm e W est D istrict,
w ere socio-dem ographic ones like age and gender, distance and institutional factors
such as the num ber and distribution o f health centres, inducem ents offered to patients,
and quality o f care. For exam ple, the relatively high antenatal and postnatal coverage
for the health centre at Pram pram is attributed to the free m eals offered to children
who use the service. The m ajor com m unity w ide factor w as the poor road network.
Some factors w hich did not play an im portant role included the educational level and
occupation o f the respondents.
Ways in w hich PHC can be strengthened in the district to m ake health care facilities
accessible to all are recom m ended. These include the granting o f greater autonom y to
D istrict H ealth M anagem ent Team s (D H M Ts) to hire com petent staff to ensure
quality health delivery. It is also recom m ended that support for and supervision o f the
health posts should be increased. The need for effective netw orking am ong the
governm ent agencies and N G O s w orking in the health sector in the district was
advocated.
CDR, C (2021). Accessibility And Utilisation Of Primary Health Care Facilities In The Dangme West District Of The Greater Accra Region. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 11, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/accessibility-and-utilisation-of-primary-health-care-facilities-in-the-dangme-west-district-of-the-greater-accra-region
Coalition, CDR. "Accessibility And Utilisation Of Primary Health Care Facilities In The Dangme West District Of The Greater Accra Region" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 05 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/accessibility-and-utilisation-of-primary-health-care-facilities-in-the-dangme-west-district-of-the-greater-accra-region . Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
Coalition, CDR. "Accessibility And Utilisation Of Primary Health Care Facilities In The Dangme West District Of The Greater Accra Region". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 05 Apr. 2021. Web. 11 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/accessibility-and-utilisation-of-primary-health-care-facilities-in-the-dangme-west-district-of-the-greater-accra-region >.
Coalition, CDR. "Accessibility And Utilisation Of Primary Health Care Facilities In The Dangme West District Of The Greater Accra Region" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 11, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/accessibility-and-utilisation-of-primary-health-care-facilities-in-the-dangme-west-district-of-the-greater-accra-region