Factors Affecting Access to Rural Health Services

This study sought to identify the major barriers to health service access for a special section of the Kenya community, namely, a rural community in a semi-arid environment, using Marigat Division of Baringo District within the Rift Valley as an example. Such environments are characterized by harsh weather conditions, sparsely distributed small settlements, poor road and other communication networks and low economic levels. The study used both primary and secondary socio-economic data, including health service attendance patterns, population and disease incidence distributions, as well as bio-physical data such as topography, weather and road networks to analyze health attendance patterns.