A qualitative study of the barriers to utilizing healthcare services among the tribal population in Assam.
PLoS One
; 15(10): e0240096, 2020.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33031431
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
We aim to explore the barriers to accessing modern healthcare services in two tribal populations in Assam.METHODS:
In March 2018, we conducted qualitative research through 60 in-depth interviews with men and women aged 15 to 50 from Bodo and Rabha tribes in Udalguri and Baksa districts of Assam. We interviewed a group of health-service providers from public health facilities to understand the demand-supply balance in those facilities.FINDINGS:
On the demand side, direct and indirect financial obstacles, distance to health facilities, poor public transportation, perceived negative behavior of hospital staff, and lack of infrastructure were the main barriers to utilizing healthcare facilities. On the supply side, doctors and nurses in government health facilities were overburdened by demand due to a lack of human resources.CONCLUSIONS:
Our study highlights the barriers to utilizing health facilities; these are not always driven by factors linked to the patient's socio-economic status but also depend significantly on the quality of the health services and other contextual factors. Although the government has made efforts to improve the rural healthcare system through national-level programs, our qualitative study shows that these programs have not been successful in enhancing the rural healthcare system in the study area.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aceptación de la Atención de Salud
/
Personal de Salud
/
Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Implementation_research
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
PLoS One
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIA
/
MEDICINA
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
India