ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The utilization of health services is an important policy concern in most developing countries. Many staff and students do not utilize the health services within the university system despite the availability of good quality services. This study investigated the provider-related factors related to utilization of university health service by staff and students in a privately owneduniversity in Nigeria. METHODS: The perception of the quality of a university health service was investigated among a cross-section of 600 university staff and students who were selected by a stratified random sampling scheme. A self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted. The structure, process and output predictors of utilization of the university health facility were assessed. Data analysis was carried out using Stata I/C 15.0. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 22.93±7.58 years. About two-thirds of them did not have opinion about the mortality and morbidity rates at the university health center. Significant proportions of the participants reported good perceptions about the structure and process quality of service indicators. Utilization of the university health center was predicted by some structure and process indicators namely; the availability/experience of staff (AOR 2.44; CI 1.67-3.58), the organization of healthcare (AOR 1.64; CI 1.11-2.41), the continuity of treatment (AOR 1.74; CI 1.12-2.70) and the waiting time (AOR 0.41; CI 0.28-0.61). CONCLUSION: The utilization of university health services was predicted by availability/experience of staff, the organization of healthcare, the waiting time and the continuity of care. The structure-process-outcome approach discriminates between the students and staff who utilize the university health center and those who donot. It also suggests a complex interplay of factors in the prediction of choice of a health facility
Subject(s)
Developing Countries , Health Services , Lakes , Nigeria , Quality of Health Care , Student Health Services , StudentsABSTRACT
Background: Universities in the high prevalence nations of sub-Saharan Africa have significant proportions of their students and staff being infected with HIV. The prevalence of risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS continues to rise especially among university students. The objective of this study is to identify predictors of sexual abstinence and attitude towards PLHIV among Babcock University students. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1225 undergraduates selected by multistage sampling technique was conducted in a privately University in Nigeria. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Results: All the participants were aware of HIV/AIDS. About one-quarter (24.1%) of the students had ever had sex. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS was very high as 87.7% of them had very good knowledge. Between 74.1% and 89.8% of the students demonstrated correct attitude towards the various attitude questions about PLHIV. Students who were less than 21 years (AOR=1.64), do not take alcohol (AOR=1.94), those with good knowledge of HIV/AIDS (AOR=2.15) were more likely to abstain from sex than their counterparts respectively. Male participants (AOR=0.64) were less likely to abstain from sex than females. The likelihood of having poor attitude towards PLHIV was less in those with good knowledge (AOR=0.16) and more in those with self-reported poor knowledge (AOR=2.97) than their respective counterparts. Conclusions: This study has identified the factors that promote sexual abstinence and reduce HIV-related stigmatization among young people. Many factors are involved. Hence, an integrated multi-sectoral and multidirectional approach is recommended for the provision of relevant HIV/AIDS knowledge, comprehensive abstinence sexuality education to young persons.