Factors of Access to Healthcare Services Among the Ageing Population: a Case of Hospital Support Organisation at African Inland Church Kijabe Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Ageing is a process which starts from the time one is born and therefore, there is a need to prepare for old age in human development. The population of the world is ageing. Each nation is experiencing an increase in the proportion and number of aged people in the population. In most situations the expectation age of humans is sixties and above. In most human populations, conditions of old age and non-communicable diseases tend to make up the rising share of disease burden. There is need to consider the challenges that ageing population face and the support they need to be able to access the available healthcare services. The purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing the access of healthcare services among the ageing population. The factors such as socio-economic factors, socio-cultural factors, institutional characteristics and the clinical manifestation of the disease were investigated in this study. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed in the collection of data. The researcher targeted the ageing population from 60 years and above who sought health care at the Africa Inland Church Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. The sample size was 372, calculated based on Fisher’s model and simple random sampling was employed in determining the study sample. An inclusion/exclusion criterion was applied during sampling. The study employed quantitative design using a closed researcher administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analysis were adopted. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel. Inferential statistics that is correlations, chi-square and t-test were employed to make conclusions. Visual presentations such tables were used to summarize, organize, simplify and interpret the collected data. Study findings revealed that socioeconomic factors such as individuals’ age, marital status, monthly cash transfer, education level and monthly income has a greater influence on access to healthcare services while gender and religion had no influence on access to healthcare services among the ageing population. The support the ageing population receive from their families determine their access to healthcare services. Similarly, the person who advises the ageing population on whether to seek the medical services had a great influence on their access to healthcare services. A significance association existed between lack of diagnostic equipment in the hospitals and access to healthcare services among the ageing population. This implied that availability of diagnostic equipment had influence on healthcare services access. Similarly, availability of drugs in the hospitals had a significant influence on access of healthcare services among the ageing population. The individual’s health status also influenced the access to healthcare services. Most ageing population who visited the Kijabe hospital were reported to have been suffering from diabetes and those who were suffering from cancer. Other illnesses reported by the respondents included arthritis, hypertension and vision loss. Therefore, the researcher recommends that both national and county government as well as hospital management should ensure drugs and diagnostic equipment are available in hospitals. It is also recommended that AIC Kijabe Hospital management should come up with a strategies that ensure the ageing population do not take a long time waiting for their healthcare services at the hospital facilities and ample time to be provided with the health care provider during consultation period. Further research should be carried on the influence of other factors other than socioeconomic, sociocultural, institutional characteristics and nature and clinical manifestation of disease on the access to healthcare services among the ageing population.