dc.contributor.author | Opwora, Antony S. | |
dc.contributor.author | Laving, Ahmed MR | |
dc.contributor.author | Nyabola, Lambert O. | |
dc.contributor.author | Olenja, Joyce M. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-02-25T12:45:13Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Opwora et al. BMC Public Health 2011,11:272 | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11189 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21539746 | |
dc.description | Who is to blame? Perspectives of caregivers on barriers to accessing healthcare for the
underfives in Butere District, Western Kenya | en |
dc.description.abstract | Background: Kenya, like many developing nations, continues to experience high childhood mortality in spite of
the many efforts put in place by governments and international bodies to curb it. This study sought to investigate
the barriers to accessing healthcare services for children aged less than five years in Butere District, a rural district
experiencing high rates of mortality and morbidity despite having relatively better conditions for child survival.
Methods: Exit interviews were conducted among caregivers seeking healthcare for their children in mid 2007 in all
the 6 public health facilities. Additionally, views from caregivers in the community, health workers and district
health managers were sought through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIs).
Results: Three hundred and ninety-seven respondents were surveyed in exit interviews while 45 respondents
participated in FGDs and KIs. Some practices by caregivers including early onset of child bearing, early
supplementation, and utilization of traditional healers were thought to increase the risk of mortality and morbidity,
although reported rates of mosquito net utilization and immunization coverage were high. The healthcare system
posed barriers to access of healthcare for the under fives, through long waiting time, lack of drugs and poor
services, incompetence and perceived poor attitudes of the health workers. FGDs also revealed wide-spread
concerns and misconceptions about health care among the caregivers.
Conclusion: Caregivers’ actions were thought to influence children’s progression to illness or health while the
healthcare delivery system posed recurrent barriers to the accessing of healthcare for the under-fives. Actions on
both fronts are necessary to reduce childhood mortality | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.title | Who is to blame? | en |
dc.title.alternative | Perspectives of caregivers on barriers to accessing healthcare for the underfives in Butere District, Western Kenya | en |
dc.type | Article | en |