Health Service Utilization and its Associated Factors among Senior Citizens Residing in a Metropolitan City, Kaski

Abstract

Health service utilization of the elderly is a major concern in today’s context, as there is increase in health problems during old age. In order to meet the health needs of the elderly and increase their quality of life, it is necessary to study the status of their health service utilization. Thus, the study was conducted to assess the health service utilization and its associated factors among senior citizens. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was carried out among senior citizens permanently residing in Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City, Kaski, Nepal. Cluster random sampling was adopted to select 310 respondents as calculated through standard formula. Data was collected through face-to-face interview schedule using semistructured questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using SPSS after entering into Epidata. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used for data analysis at 5% level of significance. Study findings revealed that the health service utilization among senior citizens was 65.8 percent. Majority (78.43%) of the respondents had visited private health facility during the past one year. The factors associated with health service utilization were assessed using Andersen’s behavioral model. Health service utilization was significantly associated with smoking behaviour (p=.006), dependency on family for expenses (p=.031), decision maker to take to health facility (p=.039), mode of travel to health facility (p=.005), awareness about free health services (p=.046), perceived health status (p=.001), chronic health problem (p=.000) and number of diseases under medication (p=.006). Based on the findings, it is concluded that more than half of the respondents had utilized health service of the modern system in the past year. It is necessary to make health services more accessible and increase awareness programs regarding free health services targeted to senior citizens to increase their health service utilization.