Abstract:
Problem Statement: In addition to low utilization of health care services in our country, which types facilities are more convenient for and meet the needs of individuals to utilize health care services among public, private and NGO health facilities, and the factors that affect their selection is the area that should be studied. This study will use the Anderson`s Behavioral Model to identify factors for individuals for their preference for types of health care facilities to utilize health services.
Objective: The objective of the study is to identify the determinants that affect individual’s preferences to utilize health care services in public, private and NGO health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: The study used facility based cross sectional study on individuals whose age is 18 and above who are visiting the health facilities seeking health care services in the facility. Pretested and structured questionnaires was used for data collection. Descriptive analysis, bi-variate and multinomial logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the determinants for preferences of health facilities. The degree of association between dependent & independent variables was assessed using adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05.
Results: The study found that women, married people, CBHI members, higher family size, cost affordability, and who had trust on the existing system were more likely to utilize public health facilities, and had significant association in the preference of health facilities to utilize health facilities. Similarly, people who were relatively in higher age category, who whose monthly incomes and annual health expenditures were relatively higher, waiting time, satisfaction and history of serious illness were tended to use private and NGO health facilities, and were significantly associated with the preference of health facilities.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Sex, age, marital status, family size, trust on the health system, estimated monthly household income, estimated annual household health care expenditure, affordability of health service cost, waiting time, CBHI, satisfaction and history of serious illness were found significant predictors of individuals preferences. If the government can emphasize on improving the quality of health facilities and create access to quality services, many people might prefer public health facilities for their usual health care services........................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library