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Examining Spatial Patterns of Primary Health Care Utilization in Southern Honduras

Baker, Jonathan B.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1123088497

Abstract Details

2005, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Geography.
Primary health care utilization is poorly understood in many parts of the developing world. This is especially true in rural places, such as Santa Lucia, Intibuca, Honduras, where there are only three primary health care facilities servicing almost 12,000 people, where the people are poor, and generally speaking access to health care services is limited. This research project focuses on trying to understand primary health care utilization patterns in this part of Southern Honduras. Specifically, this research project examines the utilization of three health clinics operating in and around Santa Lucia. The delivery of health care is dependent on many factors, including the availability, cost, and capacities of the providers; the needs, resources and decisions of the patients; and the characteristics of the region within which the patients live. This research focuses primarily on the patients, and tries to understand their health seeking behavior. A better understanding of utilization can be used by health service planners to improve primary health care delivery in this and similar locations. The findings of this research indicate that utilization patterns can be explained, to a large extent, by factors relating to walking (travel) time, economic status, and the combined affect of health service type and proximity to care. These findings are consistent with findings from prior research: Both travel time and economic status are important factors in determining primary health care utilization. In addition, a new variable is created to examine health decision-making. This new variable has not been considered in previous research, and is found to very significant determinant of health facility utilization in the study area. A modified gravity model is used to estimate the level of utilization, and is tested through the use of log linear transformation and multi-variate regression techniques. The results here, an R-square of .644, for a model combining three different health clinic service areas, clearly indicate a relationship between these independent variables and utilization.
Dr. Lin Liu (Advisor)
172 p.
Health Care Services; Geography; Utilization; Honduras

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Baker, J. B. (2005). Examining Spatial Patterns of Primary Health Care Utilization in Southern Honduras [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1123088497

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Baker, Jonathan. Examining Spatial Patterns of Primary Health Care Utilization in Southern Honduras. 2005. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1123088497.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Baker, Jonathan. "Examining Spatial Patterns of Primary Health Care Utilization in Southern Honduras." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1123088497

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1123088497
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© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.