To investigate factors associated with ambulance utilization among patients accessing emergency care at Rushere Community Hospital, Kiruhura District, Uganda

Abstract

Time-critical illnesses and injuries are major contributors to global mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to emergency medical services is often limited due to inadequate data on ambulance utilization, lack of universal access numbers, limited funding, lack of awareness and a shortage of trained personnel. The main objective of the research was to assess the factors that are associated with ambulance utilization among emergency care Patients in Rushere Community Hospital (RCH). Specifically, First the study aimed at examining the relationship between patient factors and the use of Ambulance among emergency care patients. Secondly determine the association between community factors and the ambulance use among emergency care patients presenting at RCH The study utilized secondary data from a study on factors associated with timely access to emergency care in Rushere Community hospital in Kiruhura District. Firth logistic regression model was used to assess whether patient, community and health facility factors have influenced patient decisions to use emergency medical services specifically, ambulance services and lastly to assess how health facility factors influence ambulance utilization among emergency care patients in RCH. The study found out that from the 266 patients enrolled in study,5.3% (14/266) participants were brought to the different emergency wards using ambulances. In terms of age, 91.3% of the participants were aged below 18 years. Most of the participants were male, 63.2%. Regarding the education level of the participants, 16.5% (44/266) did not attend any formal education. Interestingly, 6.8% (3/44) of these used an ambulance. A penalized logistic regression model was fitted to the data and the study found out an association between ambulance use and awareness of emergency medical services (AOR = 5.32 (1.51 – 18.68), p = 0.009). Utilization of ambulances for emergency care is low among emergency care seeking patients presenting at Rusherere community hospital, at 5.3%. Ambulance use was found to be more likely among those who were aware of emergency medical services. Evidence from this study recommends that government embarks on programs /integrate awareness messages on the availability of emergency medical services.