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Background: In response to the rapid urbanization in Ethiopia and the need for community level health services the Ministry of Health launched urban health extension program in 2009. The UHEP has been implemented in most urban settings in the country. However, the status of the UHEP service utilization has not been studied in Addis Ababa.
Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the utilization of the health extension program services by the community in Kirkos sub-city of Addis Ababa.
Methods: The study was conducted in Kirkos sub-city of Addis Ababa City Administration using a qualitative case study research design that combines several data gathering methods. Purposive sampling was used at different stages of the sample units’ selection. Information was obtained using semi-structured interviews with key informants, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), direct field observation and document reviews. The qualitative information was analyzed thematically.
Results: The study identified that although most of the components of the UHEP packages are implemented in the sub-city, only four packages are fully utilized by the community. These include mainly health education and communication, immunization, youth and reproductive health, and maternal and neonatal health package. The major reasons as to why some components of UHEP are not utilized include lack of awareness, socio-economic situation of the community in the sub-city, and lack of equipment.
Conclusion & recommendation: The findings reflect that UHEP utilization is dependent not only on the accessibility of services but also on adequacy of supply, which seems to be affected by attitudes toward health and health service utilization in the community. Thus, there is a need to engage in active sensitization campaigns to raise the awareness of the community on UHEP in the sub-city. Moreover, in order to find out ways to achieving full utilization of the packages, a comprehensive study that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods is suggested.
......................................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library |
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