Social and cultural determinants to the access of Universal health coverage, a case of Masinga Sub-County in Machakos, Kenya

Abstract

Universal Health care is a huge milestone in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). These goals put healthcare at the epicenter of development because without the latter, development may not be achieved fully. In Kenya, the government rolled out the UHC program in 2018 with four counties acting as pilot for the rest; Machakos was one of them. The study sought to investigate social and cultural determinants that affect the uptake of Universal Health Coverage. The specific objectives of the study were aimed at establishing the level of awareness on universal health coverage, examine effects of religious affiliation on universal health coverage, determine the influence of traditional beliefs on the universal health coverage and examine the effects of geographical access on universal health care in Masinga sub county. A Descriptive Research Design was adopted in which a total of 350 respondents were chosen from all the 7 locations of Masinga sub-county. The sampling was both Stratified and Systematic Random Sampling. In the actual research the respondents were issued with questionnaires that were self-administered. The questionnaires were both closed ended and open ended; the former sought to capture specific details in the respondents while the latter gave them a leeway to elaborate their answers. Analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. Quantitatively, the responses were fed into the SPSS program and analyzed; they were presented using percentages, graphs and charts. The study established that the levels of awareness on the UHC were still low in the sub county. It also established that religious persuasion, traditional beliefs and geographical access play an important role in either enhancing or inhibiting the utilization of UHC. It recommends that the government step up sensitization programs to get as many people as possible to utilize the program. At the same time, the study recommends that there should be a legislative or policy review to ensure that the role of traditional health care givers does not prejudice the access of UHC.