"These are just finishing our medicines": older persons' perceptions and experiences of access to healthcare in public and private health facilities in Uganda.

Journal: BMC health services research

Volume: 24

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya. Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box , Kampala, Uganda. Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques (INED), Paris, Aubervilliers, France. Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box , Kampala, Uganda. swandera@gmail.com.

Abstract summary 

There is limited research on the experiences of access to medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in health facilities among older persons in Uganda. This paper explores the perspectives of older persons and healthcare providers concerning older persons' access to essential medicines in Uganda.It is based on qualitative data from three districts of Hoima, Kiboga, and Busia in Uganda. Data collection methods included seven (07) focus group discussions (FGDs) and eighteen (18) in-depth interviews with older persons. Nine (9) key informant interviews with healthcare providers were conducted. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis (using Health Access Livelihood Framework) was used to analyze the barriers and facilitators of access to healthcare using QSR International NVivo software.The key facilitators and barriers to access to healthcare included both health system and individual-level factors. The facilitators of access to essential medicines included family or social support, earning some income or Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) money, and knowing a healthcare provider at a health facility. The health system barriers included the unavailability of specialized personnel, equipment, and essential medicines for non-communicable diseases, frequent stock-outs, financial challenges, long waiting times, high costs for medicines for NCDs, and long distances to health facilities.Access to essential medicines for NCDs is a critical challenge for older persons in Uganda. The Ministry of Health should make essential drugs for NCDS to be readily available and train geriatricians to provide specialized healthcare for older persons to reduce health inequities in old age. Social support systems need to be strengthened to enable older persons to access healthcare.

Authors & Co-authors:  Ayuku Ntozi Kwagala Golaz Wandera

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  UNFPA HAI. Ageing in the twenty-First Century: a celebration and a challenge. New York, and HelpAge International, London: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); 2012.
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : 396
SSN : 1472-6963
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Barriers;Drugs;Elderly;Facilitators;Health system;Private health facility;Public health facility;Sub-Saharan Africa;Uganda
Study Design
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Uganda
Publication Country
England