Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Population aging is associated with the rising incidence of chronic illness. This presents a significant challenge to healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries, as untreated chronic conditions can lead to years of disability and loss of independence strain...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70351 |
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| author | Amare Belachew Nicolas Cherbuin Nasser Bagheri Richard Burns |
| author_facet | Amare Belachew Nicolas Cherbuin Nasser Bagheri Richard Burns |
| author_sort | Amare Belachew |
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| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Population aging is associated with the rising incidence of chronic illness. This presents a significant challenge to healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries, as untreated chronic conditions can lead to years of disability and loss of independence straining health budgets and resources. Promoting healthy aging can be one avenue for mitigating these challenges. This study aims to identify factors influencing health service use among healthy and non‐healthy agers, utilizing the Andersen‐Newman model that describes predisposing (including demographic characteristics, social structure, and health beliefs), enabling (related to the logistical aspects of obtaining care, such as personal and community resources), and need factors (referring to the individual's perceived and evaluated health status). Methods Older adults (n = 545) in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia were surveyed about their health and health‐seeking behaviors. Associations between risk factors and health service utilization were examined using Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results A total of 79.3% of older adults utilized health services, with consistent usage between healthy and non‐healthy agers. Factors associated with increased health service utilization included severe (RR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.56–3.09), and moderate (RR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.44–2.85) disease severity, reporting comorbid conditions (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06–1.23), having health insurance (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), not reporting loneliness (RR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.26), and being financially independent (RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00–1.22). Conversely, residing in rented housing (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62–0.98) and living greater than 30 min from a healthcare facility (RR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.54–0.71) decreased health service utilization. Conclusion Health service utilization was low compared to developed countries. This could be due to newer and improved health services in developed countries. Improving financial independence, health insurance coverage, access to healthcare facilities, and encouraging peer or family support can enhance healthcare access in Ethiopians. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-317b4f4687474e68936cde28777c274f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-317b4f4687474e68936cde28777c274f2025-01-29T03:42:39ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-01-0181n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70351Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional StudyAmare Belachew0Nicolas Cherbuin1Nasser Bagheri2Richard Burns3Department of Pediatrics and Child Helath, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar EthiopiaDepartment of Health Economics, Wellbeing, and Society National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory AustraliaFaculty of Health, Health Research Institute University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory AustraliaDepartment of Health Economics, Wellbeing, and Society National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory AustraliaABSTRACT Background and Aims Population aging is associated with the rising incidence of chronic illness. This presents a significant challenge to healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries, as untreated chronic conditions can lead to years of disability and loss of independence straining health budgets and resources. Promoting healthy aging can be one avenue for mitigating these challenges. This study aims to identify factors influencing health service use among healthy and non‐healthy agers, utilizing the Andersen‐Newman model that describes predisposing (including demographic characteristics, social structure, and health beliefs), enabling (related to the logistical aspects of obtaining care, such as personal and community resources), and need factors (referring to the individual's perceived and evaluated health status). Methods Older adults (n = 545) in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia were surveyed about their health and health‐seeking behaviors. Associations between risk factors and health service utilization were examined using Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results A total of 79.3% of older adults utilized health services, with consistent usage between healthy and non‐healthy agers. Factors associated with increased health service utilization included severe (RR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.56–3.09), and moderate (RR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.44–2.85) disease severity, reporting comorbid conditions (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06–1.23), having health insurance (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), not reporting loneliness (RR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.26), and being financially independent (RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00–1.22). Conversely, residing in rented housing (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62–0.98) and living greater than 30 min from a healthcare facility (RR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.54–0.71) decreased health service utilization. Conclusion Health service utilization was low compared to developed countries. This could be due to newer and improved health services in developed countries. Improving financial independence, health insurance coverage, access to healthcare facilities, and encouraging peer or family support can enhance healthcare access in Ethiopians.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70351determinantsEthiopiahealthcare‐seekingolder adults |
| spellingShingle | Amare Belachew Nicolas Cherbuin Nasser Bagheri Richard Burns Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study Health Science Reports determinants Ethiopia healthcare‐seeking older adults |
| title | Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full | Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_short | Identifying the Factors That Drive Health Service Utilization Among Healthy and Non‐Healthy Agers in a Sample of Older Ethiopians: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_sort | identifying the factors that drive health service utilization among healthy and non healthy agers in a sample of older ethiopians a cross sectional study |
| topic | determinants Ethiopia healthcare‐seeking older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70351 |
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