title: Machakos Project Studies. Agents affecting health of mother and child in a rural area of Kenya. XX. A dynamic approach to the utilization of health services in a rural area of Machakos, Kenya.
abstract: Utilization of health services can be considered as a longitudinal process, in which individuals on having complaints make a choice between various health improving activities. This approach, employing a method described by Grundy and Reinke (1973) is used to analyse results of a survey on health services utilization in Machakos district, Kenya. Transition matrices for the population as a whole and for males, females and under-fives could be constructed. Differences in health improving behaviour between males and females, over- and underfives were found. Self medication and taking no action on a complaint were found to be important options for the study population. A distinct path through the health services by members of the population emerges. A indicator of effectiveness of different types of services is tentatively applied.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009017:Morbidity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012423:Rural Health; D012651:Self Medication