Health Care Utilization in Rural Community a Cross Sectional Study

Objectives: 1) To know utilization pattern of health services 2) To know the factors influencing the utilization of health services.

Study Design&period: Cross Sectional Study&March - December 2009.

Setting: PHC area of Vantamuri.

Method: A total of 439 households were enrolled in the study by random sampling technique .Data was collected from the head of the household using pre-tested and pre-designed interview schedule after obtaining informed consent.

Statistical Analysis: Percentages and Chi- Square Test.

Results: The present study reveals that most of the participants availed private health facilities (66.6%). Reasons for utilizing private were nearest facility and accessibility whenever needed. Majority of the households belonged to the class IV. About 69.02% of respondents were aware of distance of nearest health facility availability. Out of 103 pregnant women 95.15%were registered. Out of them 67.35% had registered in private health facilities and only 5% had registered with ANM.75% of the children were fully immunized and remaining 25 % were partially immunized.

Conclusion: The study shows widespread use of private services, but it also reveals that reasons for not utilizing public health services were due to inconvenience of time following waiting for long time.