Community-based study identifies factors influencing healthcare service utilization for NCDs in rural adults, suggesting implications for public health.
Key Points
The study aims to identify factors influencing healthcare utilization for noncommunicable disease management in a rural community.
Community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 700 adults diagnosed with NCDs in 10 villages of Dakshina Kannada, India.
Participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling and simple random sampling methods from households.
Data collected through a semistructured questionnaire validated by experts.
All participants utilized healthcare services for NCD management, with 74.7% reporting a single NCD.
73.7% opted for private healthcare services, while 25.6% used public primary health centers.
Proximity to healthcare facilities and shorter disease duration significantly increased odds of using government services, with aOR=7.213 for those within 5 km compared to over 10 km.