Accessibility to healthcare among HIV/AIDS patients in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement and host community
Abstract
In Uganda, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among adults is 6.7 which corresponds to 1.2 million
people aged 15 to 64 years living with HIV/AIDS which makes it second to South Africa where
2363 get infected every week. Approximately 75 % of all the global HIV/AIDS-related deaths
totaling 1.6 million in 2012 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda contributed 5.25% to these
deaths. The aim of this study, therefore, was to explore the accessibility to healthcare amongst
HIV/AIDS patients in Kyangwali refugee settlement and host community. The study was a cross
sectional study based on quantitative data collected using semi-structured questionnaires
comprised of 200 HIV-positive patients in Kyangwali refugee settlement and host community. The
investigations were made by demographic and social-economic factors. The analysis was done
using binary logistic regression model and odd ratios were reported. The results indicated that the
majority (68.5 %) of respondents accessed healthcare at the nearest health facility. The main
elements of accessibility associated with access to healthcare include; age 36–46 years (p=0.040)
and they are 0.3 times more likely to access healthcare than age category 14-18 years, residence
(within the camp) (p=0.024) whereby refugees are 3 times more likely to access healthcare than
the host community and distance 3km-4km (p=0.000) and >4km (p=0.004) whereby they are 4
and 5 times respectively more likely to access healthcare at the nearest health facility than patients
residing within 2km to the nearest health facility. In conclusion, the distance (3km-4km) traveled
by the respondents, age category (36-46years) and residential status of the respondents (within the
camp) were associated with access to healthcare and there was relatively high access to healthcare
amongst the patients. The study therefore recommends provision of transportation means to HIV
patients, providing adult education on HIV care to HIV patients and ensuring increased access to
HIV care messages through community outreaches as a key measure of increasing access to
healthcare amongst HIV/AIDS patients.