Determinants of low utilization of curative service

The study was conducted in households with heads of households who reported being sick two weeks prior to the survey.The objective was to identify determinants associated with low utilization of curative service in the Pweto health zone.The study was conducted in households with heads of households who reported being sick two weeks prior to the survey.The objective was to identify determinants associated with low utilization of curative service in the Pweto health zone. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 30 to November 06, 2013. The proportion of low curative service utilization was 53.3% (0.47-0.59)%. In univariate analysis, of all the variables retained in the study, only occupation was statistically associated with low utilization of health care services with ORs (95% CI) of 4.4 (1.1-24.6) for the self-employed and 8.1 (2.1-45.8) for the unemployed compared to the employed (p=0.001). Logistic regression showed that there was a statistically significant association between low utilization of care services and occupation. The odds of low utilization of health care services were higher in households where the head was self-employed or unemployed than in those where he or she was employed, with adjusted ORs (95% CI) of 4.1 (1.0-16.7) and 8.3 (1.9-35.9), respectively, and p-value equal to 0.00.

Autorentext

Philippe C. MULENGA es doctor en medicina y tiene un posgrado en salud pública por la Universidad de Lubumbashi. Está certificado en gestión y planificación de enfermedades tropicales en Bélgica (ITM-Amberes). Actualmente, es profesor en la Facultad de Medicina de la UNILU y estudiante de doctorado (UNILU-IMT Amberes y ULB en Bélgica).