Community Medicine

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Browsing Community Medicine by Subject "Access to Healthcare Services"

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    Healthcare Literacy and the Access to Healthcare Services by the Elderly in Bagamoyo District, Pwani Region, Tanzania
    (Journal of Sociology, Psychology & Religious Studies, 2025-04-05) Ndossi, Godwin D.
    Limited healthcare literacy among elderly populations in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania, impairs their ability to navigate healthcare systems, understand medical instructions, and make informed health decisions. Despite various initiatives, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding how healthcare literacy levels influence elderly individuals' access to healthcare services. Anchored in the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) theory, this study aimed to determine the effect of healthcare literacy on access to healthcare services among the elderly in Bagamoyo district. The mixed-method research design employed a pragmatic approach, targeting elderly individuals aged 60 years and above attending health facilities. Using Krejcie and Morgan's formula and a proportional formula, a sample size of 239 respondents was determined, with 237 participants ultimately included. Data collection utilized structured questionnaires, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs), focusing on education levels, healthcare awareness, and health information comprehension. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for quantitative analysis, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Linear regression results revealed a significant positive relationship between healthcare literacy and access to healthcare services (coefficient=2.501, p-value=0.000), with the model explaining 5.6% of the variance. Qualitative findings highlighted challenges in healthcare delivery and education, emphasizing the need to adapt communication styles to ensure comprehension and adherence to medical advice. The study concludes that healthcare literacy plays a critical role in shaping health outcomes among elderly populations in rural settings like Bagamoyo district. It recommends prioritizing healthcare literacy in healthcare provision strategies through tailored education campaigns, multi-channel health communication platforms, and enhanced provider-patient communication
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    The Contributions of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Access to Healthcare Services by the Elderly in Bagamoyo District Pwani Region, Tanzania
    (Journal of Sociology, Psychology & Religious Studies, 2025-04-05) Ndossi, Godwin D.
    Religious beliefs significantly influence healthcare access among elderly individuals in Tanzania, particularly in Bagamoyo District, yet their specific contributions remain inadequately understood in current healthcare delivery systems. With 57% of elderly individuals avoiding health facilities when sick due to various barriers, understanding the religious dimensions becomes crucial. This study examined the contributions of religious beliefs and practices on access to healthcare services by the elderly in Bagamoyo district, anchored in Jean Watson's Theory of Transpersonal Caring (1979), which emphasizes caring as more effective in supporting health than medical treatment alone. The study employed a mixed-method research design, targeting 4,998 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above attending health facilities in Bagamoyo district. Using Krejcie and Morgan's formula, and a proportional formula a sample of 239 respondents was determined, though 237 actually participated. Data was collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews with 15 medical officers, and 11 focus group discussions. The instruments' reliability was validated using Cronbach's Alpha, yielding coefficients of 0.7733 for unstandardized items and 0.8086 for standardized items. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and thematic analysis. The study found a statistically significant positive relationship between religious beliefs and healthcare access (β = 0.384, p = 0.007), with 47.3% of respondents demonstrating high religious engagement. Religious beliefs explained 3.1% of variance in healthcare access, while 89.8% of respondents affirmed the positive role of religious institutions in providing psychological healing services. However, 84% reported their religious affiliations lacked formal health programs for the elderly, though 95.8% of religious institutions endorsed regular use of government healthcare facilities. The study concludes that religious beliefs significantly influence elderly healthcare access, though they represent one of several contributing factors. Healthcare providers and religious institutions should establish formal partnerships to enhance elderly healthcare access by leveraging existing religious networks and community trust, while developing dedicated healthcare programs that integrate preventive care with spiritual activities.