Enhancing Health-Seeking Behavior: A Case of Khwisero Sub-County, Kakamega County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2200/aerj.v4i2.191Keywords:
Challenges, Health Facilities, Health seeking behavior, Rural communityAbstract
According to World Health Organization, the ultimate goal of Primary Health Care is better health for all. Appropriate health seeking behavior and public health intervention can be achieved through functional health care systems. Community utilization of health facilities can be influenced by the cost of services, distance to health facilities, cultural beliefs, level of education and health facility inadequacies. Mwihila Mission Hospital in Khwisero Sub-County, Kakamega County was established in 1955 as a referral hospital and run by missionaries. Due to mismanagement, lack of funding and supplies, there was deterioration of service provision. The hospital collapsed in 2008 thus diminishing the opportunity for better health within the community. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how organizational development theory and participatory action research were used to enhance health seeking behavior and improving public health intervention in Khwisero Sub-County through rehabilitation and revival of Mwihila Mission Hospital thus, improving health outcomes between 2013 and 2018. At the start of the program, data was gathered and preliminary diagnosis of challenges they faced in utilizing health facilities established. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to facilitate the mutual participation in rehabilitation and renovation of the hospital. Illiteracy, poverty, under funding of the health sector, inadequate water and poor sanitation had a big impact on health indicators in the community. These results were used in a program for joint action planning and executing behavioural changes within the hospital management and community organization. Major adjustments and re-evaluations returned the organizational development process to the first or planning stage for basic changes in the program. Organizational development (OD) theory and participatory action research (PAR) process had a positive effect on health seeking behaviour. In conclusion, PAR is essential in the hospital - community relationship. Skills such as self-awareness have the potential to nurture the development of primary health care workers and health seeking behavior. PAR should therefore be applied in enhancing health seeking behavior and improving primary care, and as such, play a role in achieving Universal Health Care.
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