Open AccessGeographic accessibility of healthcare services and health seeking behaviours of rural communities in Kudat and Pitas areas of Sabah
Author(s) -
Naing Oo Tha,
Wendy Diana Shoesmith,
Bih Yuan Tan,
Mohd Yusof Ibrahim,
Syed Shajee Hussein
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
borneo epidemiology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2716-7070
pISSN - 2735-0266
DOI - 10.51200/bej.v1i1.2436
Subject(s) - health care , residence , rural area , population , geography , location , environmental health , business , medicine , socioeconomics , nursing , economic growth , sociology , demography , geodesy , pathology , economics
Introduction: One of the aims outlined in Malaysia’s Health Vision 2020 is to be a nation of healthy individuals, families, and communities through an equitable, affordable, efficient, environmentally adaptable, and consumer friendly healthcare system. Sabah faces tremendous challenges to provide the best care for patients. For example, Sabah's unique geographical location and landscape, such as steep hills and rivers, is one of the challenges that health staff faces. Objectives of this study aimed to examine the prevalence of geographical accessibility, types of healthcare services, and the types of health seeking behaviour in 2 northern rural areas of Sabah to assess the geographic accessibility and availability of healthcare services. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural areas in Sabah—Kudat and Pitas. Data collection was done by using questionnaire and face–to-face interviews. Results: It was found that 48% of the study population sought healthcare and they mainly chose healthcare services from hospitals and health clinics. Conclusion: Half of the population in the areas studied used healthcare in the last year. The choice of using a public hospital or community health clinics was determined by distance from residence.