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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 fhat 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.
