title: A health status and health service utilization study of a peri-urban community in Kwazulu.
abstract: A community survey was undertaken in a district in Kwazulu, adjacent to Pietermaritzburg. Natal, in order to determine health status and health service utilization patterns at a local level. This low-cost survey was labour-efficient and yielded useful data for the evaluation and planning of local health services. It was found that child health and delivery services were under-utilized while family planning and antenatal care services were comparatively well used. 'Traditional' practitioners' services were used regularly by 51% of the mothers and childminders interviewed. The use of the services of general medical practitioners was less significant. Some 36% of the children under 5 years of age were found to be malnourished, and 29% had conditions requiring medical treatment. The findings of this study indicate that a major discrepancy exists between the local need for health services and utilization of the available services. The introduction of community health workers is proposed as a possible solution.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002662:Child Health Services; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D009035:Mothers; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa