Utilization of Modern Health Care in Nkwanta District

Abstract.

The study focuses on the factors that influence utilization of modern health care, in a contemporary rural community of Nkwanta District, Volta Region, Ghana. The intention is to provide insight into understanding these factors in the light of the people’s perception of health. A sample size of three hundred and forty respondents were selected by simple random method. They were selected from one hundred and fifty-eight households, in twenty towns and villages within two subdistricts out of the five. We zoned one into north and south, and the other into east and west. The sample consists of one hundred and eighty-seven males and one hundred and fifty-three females within the ages of 20-80 years and above. The researcher and three trained research assistants used a structured interview schedule for the data collection. Data was analyzed in Epi Info 6, and Microsoft Excel, and results presented in simple percentages, frequency distributions, and cross tabulations. Two focus group discussions were held in two towns in twi, and was translated into English. Findings indicated that majority 76.5% of the respondents utilized a modern health facility in the district the last time they were sick, with only 23.5%, using other sources such as self medication. Further, analysis of both the quantitative and qualitative data indicate that cost and distance are the two most important factors contributing to under-utilization of modem health service in the district. The study concluded that if hospital fees are reduced, deposits removed and the deplorable roads’ conditions improved, utilization of modern health facilities in the district is likely to improve. Finally, it was suggested that further research, and more empirical testing remains to be done, in order to explore the link between willingness to pay and ability to pay, since this was the sentiment expressed by most of the respondents.