Factors affecting health care utilization among population residing in selected rural community

A descriptive study was conducted to assess the factors affecting health care utilization and to find association of factors affecting utilization of health care services with treatment seeking behavior among population residing in selected rural community of district Faridkot. Out of 200 adults who were selected through two stage cluster random sampling technique, 127 adults (who had taken treatment for any illness)in previous year were interviewed. Research tools used were Socio-demographic data sheet and Interview schedule to assess factors affecting health care utilization. Treatment seeking behavior included treatment taken or not taken from any public or private health facility. Analysis was done by using the descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS version 20 statistical package. Results showed that the factors which affected the health care utilization were availability of medical staff, availability of free health care services, availability of services at lower cost, type of sickness, seriousness of illness and influence of health care workers. There was significant association was found between these five factors and treatment seeking behavior.