Assessment of the factors influencing utilization of diabetes Health care services among diabetic patients in Kenya: a case of diabetic patients in Kiambu district Hospital

Abstract

Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases poses a major challenge in Kenya today and this is likely to worsen unless major strategies are put in place to control them . This calls for the development of diabetes control strategy to reduce the consequences of the disease and their impacts in the population, improvement of the quality of life and minimizing deaths in those with diabetes. However, this could not be achieved without a clear understanding of factors that influence utilization of diabetic care. This study therefore sought to explore these factors among diabetic patients in Kiambu District Hospital. The study is based on Andersen health behavioral model whereby different factors relating to utilization of diabetes care are explored. Some of the variables considered in this study include the number of visits made to diabetic health center as the dependent variable with education levels, gender, occupation, time taken to access care, marital status, attitude, transport cost, out of pocket, insurance, cost of accessing diabetic services, information obtained from friends, information obtained from media and being either a Christian or Muslim as the explanatory variables. The study results reviewed that age of patients ,higher education levels, married, attitude, transport costs, insurance, cost of diabetic care and being a muslim were statistically significant determinants of utilization of diabetic care hence the conclusion that the independed predictors of utilization of diabetic care in kiambu District Hospital mentioned above need to be addressed so as to improve on service utilization. Based on the results, it was suggested that there is need to introduce cash transfers to the older generation who may not have source of income to continue accessing diabetic care as well as increase awareness through institutions like schools or religious groups especially the Muslim community on the importance of continuous uptake of these services. Further, it was suggested that more health facilities need to be constructed and staffed with relevant personnel and equipment to enable more utilization through reduction of transport costs associated as this will help bring services closer to the population. Finally, there was a suggestion of subsidizing services and introduction of relevant health insurance covers that takes care of costs of a good proportion of services offered in these diabetic care centers. If this is achieved, more and more uptake of diabetic care will be a reality and health status of the population consequently improves.