Predisposing factors that influence access to healthcare by the residents in Kiandutu urban informal settlement, Kiambu county, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Access to healthcare refers to the ability to get the required medical care from the health service providers when needed. This is further defined into three aspects: availability of the services, affordability of the services, and acceptability of the services. The settings in informal settlements highlight the abject poverty which perpetuates ill health, with the poor being less likely to report health problems and seek medical treatment in the event of illness. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional design was used to study 318 selected participants from Kiandutu slum in Kiambu County. Data was collected using administered structured questionnaire, focussed group discussion and key informant interview. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0 and involved univariate and bivariate analysis. Chi-square were used to test the significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables (p<0.05). Qualitative data was analyzed by thematic content analysis. Results: Findings showed that access to healthcare was influenced by religion (ꭙ2=4.193; df=1; p<0.041), education level (ꭙ2=7.854; df=2; p<0.020), income (ꭙ2=6.921; df=2; p<0.031) and distance to the facility (ꭙ2=25.818; df=2; p<0.0001). Conclusions: Affordability and availability of the health services was the main challenge on health seeking behaviour. Education level and religion were associated with access to healthcare. Income earning and distance to the health facility outside informal settlement influenced access to healthcare.