Patterns of Healthcare Utilization and Barriers to Child Healthcare Services in Low-Income Urban South African Settings

Sunday Adedini, University of the Witwatersrand
Matshidiso Sello, University of Witwatersrand
Dineo Thaele, University of the Witwatersrand

Improving access to quality healthcare can contribute to reducing childhood mortality. Thus, this study examined patterns of child healthcare utilization (CHU) and barriers to CHU in two low-income urban South African settings—Soweto and Orange Farm. Data for the study came from CHU survey conducted in 2015. Information was collected on 531 under-five children and their caregivers from randomly selected households. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Barriers to CHU were reported for more than half of the sampled children (52.0%), and long queues at health facility (HF), poor attitude of healthcare workers, lack of medicine in HF and distance to HF constitute the major barriers. These findings were re-echoed in multivariable analysis, as distance to HF (Odds ratio (OR):2.01:CI:1.04-3.89,p<0.05) was a strong predictor of barriers to CHU. This study underscored the need for improved access to adequate healthcare in the selected locations in South Africa.