Dissertation (MA Sociology)
Zanzibar is a part of the United Republic of Tanzania which initiated health sector
reform in 2002, in order to ensure the availability of equitable high quality health
care services to all people of different age.
According to the Population and Housing census (2012), elderly population rose
from 5 percent up to 7.3 percent. This make up approximately 19 percent of all
those experienced disability in Zanzibar. Data show that, the number of disabilities
in Zanzibar rose from 16 percent in 2009 up to 19 percent in 2012. This indicates
that health needs for the older people were not met in the Isles, including the usage
of Preventive Health Services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine
factors influencing utilization of Preventive Health Services among elderly people
in the urban settings in Zanzibar.
Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Use manipulated to examine factors
influencing the use of Preventive Health Services among elderly. Data for this study
were gathered through surveys; whereby, questionnaires were allocated among 85
elderly living in the Urban District, in the Urban West Region, in Zanzibar. FGD
was used to 14 elderly from Sebleni Nursing Homes while structured interview was
used to two (2) government officials, and 4 doctors. Data were analyzed using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 and Microsoft office
2007.
The results have shown that both sexes of the elderly people in Zanzibar had limited
access to the essential Preventive Health Services. This was due to lack of
awareness and negative attitude towards Preventive Health Services. Data also have
revealed that as the age increased the usage of Preventive Health Services
decreased. Furthermore, the study results revealed that, health insurance played a
key role in an individual ability to obtain health care services.