The Challenges Facing Elderly People in Accessing Health Services Provided by Government Health Facilities in Moshi Municipality of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Sanga, George Severine (2013) The Challenges Facing Elderly People in Accessing Health Services Provided by Government Health Facilities in Moshi Municipality of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges facing elderly people in accessing health services in public health facilities a case study of Moshi Municipality. Within Moshi Municipality eighteen health facilities were selected. The target population was elderly people, health practitioners and people working with Non Government Organizations. The researcher employed mixed methods of research designs which were Quantitative and qualitative. The main methods employed by a researcher were questionnaires and semi structured interview. Findings for current study indicate that 85% of the elderly people involved in the study fail to access important medications in health facilities. And 80% of the elderly people also need to have their own window for their health services which will reduce wastage of time in health facilities. They would like to be involved in every stage of provision of knowledge on free medical treatments in health facilities. Also the findings indicate that elderly people take a long time waiting for health services including procedures of getting patient files. Also health practitioners explained that many elders arrive to the health facilities very late due to unavailability of transport. The researcher recommends that, the government should establish specific windows for health services to the elderly people so as to reduce time wastage in health facilities, social worker should provide knowledge to elders on free medical treatment, moreover Public health facilities all over the country should possess enough important medication for elderly people so as to help them access easily, private health facilities owners should accept health services exemptions and elders health insurance funds, Social worker should cooperate with other stakeholders like doctors and nurses to advocate for the elders rights such as health services.

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