Influence of socio-economic factors on utilization of healthcare services in informal settlements: a case of health projects in Kibera Slum, Nairobi County

This research sought to demystify the influence of socio-economic factors on utilization of \nhealthcare services in Kenya’s informal settlements using community health projects in Kibera \nslum in Nairobi County. The study sought to investigate the five related objectives which \nincluded: to examine the influence of levels of income on health-care seeking behavior in \ninformal settlements in Kenya, to establish the influence of literacy levels on health-care seeking \nbehavior in informal settlements in Kenya, to verify the influence of levels of poverty on healthcare \nseeking behavior in informal settlements in Kenya, ascertain the influence of gender on \nhealth-care seeking behavior on informal settlements in Kenya and to determine the combined \ninfluence of socio-economic factors on health-care seeking behavior in informal settlements in \nKenya. The study delimited itself to the four ongoing projects which included Kibera Water and \nSanitation Project, Kibera Global Giving Project, Kibera Community Integrated Health Program \nand Kibera Better Options Project. The target population for this study was 500 households \nsupported by the four projects under study. The sample size for this study was 154 \nhouseholds that were determined by the use of the simplified Yamane, (1967) formula of \nproportions. A structured questionnaire was the main tool used to collect the required data. \nThe structured questionnaire contained 6 sections with 15 questions. The validity of the \nquestionnaire was established through construct validity while reliability of the questionnaire was \nestablished through Cronbach’s Alpha and found to be 0.7475 meaning the questionnaire was \ntherefore reliable. Pilot-testing of the questionnaire was undertaken on households in Mashimoni \nvillage that were deliberately excluded from the main study. Pilot testing process was crucial in \nhelping to refine the questionnaire mechanics and remove inconsistencies and errors. This \nresearch adopted descriptive survey design so as to describe the characteristics of targeted \nhouseholds, estimate the proportion of people with certain characteristics and make predictions \non utilization of healthcare services. This design was used due to its ability to ensure \nminimization of bias and maximization of the reliability of evidence so collected. Data obtained \nwas analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 21.0.Qualitative data \nwas analyzed by making inferences from expressions and opinions of the respondents around the \nthemes and presented descriptively through content analysis. Findings were presented in \nfrequency tables and explanations followed in prose. From the regression models undertaken \nthere was a highly significant relationship (with t statistic p value <0.001 < 0.05) between the \nlevel of income and utilization of healthcare services. Again there existed a highly significant \nrelationship (with t statistic p value <0.0035 < 0.05) between level of poverty and the utilization \nof health care services. There was somewhat significant relationship significant relationship (with \nt statistic p value <0.0045 < 0.05) between literacy level and the utilization of healthcare services. \nHowever there was no any relationship between gender (p = 0.220 > 0.05) and the utilization of \nhealthcare services. Meaning this study adopts accept the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hypothesis and rejects the \n4th hypotheses respectively. From the multiple regression model, this relationship is depicted as \nY= 4.00+ 0.001X1+ 0.0035X2+ 0.0045X3+ 0.220X4 +B0. In essence therefore, this study \nrecommends that deliberate efforts should be placed on income levels, boosting literacy and \nreduction of poverty levels if utilization of health care services is to improve in informal \nsettlements in Kenya.