Publication:

Predisposing factors that influence access to healthcare by the residents in Kiandutu urban informal settlement, Kiambu county, Kenya

Background Access to healthcare refers to the ability to get the required medical care from the health service providers when needed. This is further defined into three aspects: availability of the services, affordability of the services, and acceptability of the services. The settings in informal settlements highlight the abject poverty which perpetuates ill health, with the poor being less likely to report health problems and seek medical treatment in the event of illness.

Methods Analytical cross-sectional design was used to study 318 selected participants from Kiandutu slum in Kiambu County. Data was collected using administered structured questionnaire, focussed group discussion and key informant interview. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0 and involved univariate and bivariate analysis. Chi-square were used to test the significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables (p<0.05). Qualitative data was analyzed by thematic content analysis.

Results Findings showed that access to healthcare was influenced by religion (ꭙ2=4.193; df=1; p<0.041), education level (ꭙ2=7.854; df=2; p<0.020).

Conclusions The study reveals that limited healthcare access in urban informal settlements significantly impacts residents' healthcare use. Education and religion levels are linked to healthcare access. The government should provide friendly health services and health education to improve health awareness in these settlements.