Factors Influencing Utilization Of Preventive Health Services Among Elderly People In Urban Settings: A Case Study Of Urban District, Zanzibar

ABSTRACT

Zanzibar is a part of the United Republic of Tanzania which initiated health sector

reform in 2002, in order to ensure the availability of equitable high quality health

care services to all people of different age.

According to the Population and Housing census (2012), elderly population rose

from 5 percent up to 7.3 percent. This make up approximately 19 percent of all

those experienced disability in Zanzibar. Data show that, the number of disabilities

in Zanzibar rose from 16 percent in 2009 up to 19 percent in 2012. This indicates

that health needs for the older people were not met in the Isles, including the usage

of Preventive Health Services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine

factors influencing utilization of Preventive Health Services among elderly people

in the urban settings in Zanzibar.

Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Use manipulated to examine factors

influencing the use of Preventive Health Services among elderly. Data for this study

were gathered through surveys; whereby, questionnaires were allocated among 85

elderly living in the Urban District, in the Urban West Region, in Zanzibar. FGD

was used to 14 elderly from Sebleni Nursing Homes while structured interview was

used to two (2) government officials, and 4 doctors. Data were analyzed using

Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 and Microsoft office

2007.

The results have shown that both sexes of the elderly people in Zanzibar had limited

access to the essential Preventive Health Services. This was due to lack of

awareness and negative attitude towards Preventive Health Services. Data also have

revealed that as the age increased the usage of Preventive Health Services

decreased. Furthermore, the study results revealed that, health insurance played a

key role in an individual ability to obtain health care services.