Factors Influencing Uptake of Oncology Specialized Health Care Services in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Most cancer patients in Kenya do not have access to available cancer health care facilities, leading to increase in newly diagnosed oncology cases reported each year. Most studies conducted in Kenya lay more emphasis on the increased prevalence and incidence of cancers. Consequently, there is limited empirical research on access to oncology specialized healthcare services in Kenya, a research gap filled by this study. The main objective of this study was to determine factors influencing uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services among patients in Uasin Gishu using; affordability of oncology services, location of the health facility, acceptability of services provided and availability of the oncology specialized healthcare services. Using descriptive research design, the study employed a census survey on population of 142 screened oncology patients in the 18 level 3 and 4 facilities in Uasin Gishu County. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and then inferential analysis with results presented in form of tables and figures. The data was analysed with assistance of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0. The study found that affordability of oncology services has a strong significant and positive relationship with uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County, location of oncology services had a very strong positive significant relationship with uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County, acceptability of oncology services has a moderate significant relationship with positive effect on uptake of oncology healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County and availability of oncology specialized healthcare services has a very strong positive significant relationship with uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County. The study reveals that at 0.05 (5%) level of significance, there exists a significant relationship between each of; affordability of oncology services, location of oncology services, acceptability of oncology services, and availability of oncology specialized healthcare services and uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County and that 81.92% of change in uptake of oncology specialized healthcare services in Uasin Gishu County is explained by; affordability of oncology services, acceptability of oncology services, and availability of oncology specialized healthcare services. The study recommends that since health is a devolved function, the county government of Uasin Gishu should; improve patient access to affordable cancer services through reduction of cost of diagnostics tests and medicines, increase the number of oncology specialized healthcare services screening units as well as clinic across the county, engage adequate and experience and competent oncology specialized healthcare staff, and improve on building capacity to administer the necessary help by training more personnel in the region.