A needs analysis among students at the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University concerning a primary health care centre
Date
2011-12-15
Authors
Olivier, Elana
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Abstract
Introduction
No health care services are available for staff or students on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Lack of finances and the notion that the health of the campus community is not the core business of a university are reasons for not providing some form of health care service. The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted internationally, stating that essential health care must be made universally accessible to all people. South Africa endorses the Declaration of Alma-Ata and commits itself to ensure equitable access to health care. A needs analysis of the Higher Education AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) demonstrated that most South African universities, within reasonable means, respond to their students' health needs by providing some form of primary health care service. The researcher is adopting an ecological approach using the Healthy Campus Model. The model is based on primary health care principles and values which refer to the health needs of people as this would assist in alleviating the burden of disease and the risks thereof. The Healthy Campus Model also explores equal access and utilization of quality health care whereby these principles of primary health care and community participation would guide such a service. This approach determines whether basic human rights of access to health care have been met.
Materials and Methods
In this study the research design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. The survey is part of a comprehensive health needs assessment, using a mainly quantitative questionnaire as a data collection tool. The study population consisted of full-time students enrolled at the Potchefstroom Campus. It included subgroups on gender, seniority and place of residence and was chosen specifically to identify possible high-risk activities and influences on student health. A sample size of 370 students and confidence interval of 95% were calculated. Both purposive and a volunteer sampling were used.
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Results
The most significant finding is the students' need for an affordable and accessible health care facility with a high level of client confidentiality and quality of service. The survey included data of the financial needs of students regarding their primary source of financial assistance as an indication of their financial wealth. Access to finances specifically allocated for health care shows that almost half of the target population (47,54%) do not have the surety of access to a source of finance to cover their medical expenses. However, the majority (74,32%) are willing to contribute towards cost-effective and affordable health care and do not expect free health care. Accessible health care services are also of major concern. The majority of students (68,38%) stay on or within walking distance from campus. The results indicated furthermore that students’ have specific health needs and preferences. The highest priority of health care were given to acute care or minor ailments (79,5%) followed by counselling care (70,6%). A need for HIV and Aids clinical programmes (69,8%) and health awareness and prevention programmes (67,6%) was indicated. The majority (83,74%) indicated that the services of the proposed health care centre will be preferred and utilized if available and affordable.
Discussion
The results of the health needs analysis on the Potchefstroom Campus clearly indicate that the students have definite needs for such services. The researcher argues that the institution is at risk by NOT responding to the students’ health needs. Absence of a health care service attributes to the inauspicious health environment of the campus. By supporting the ecological approach, the researcher concurs that a healthy environment has the greatest impact on good health and that health and educational success are interdependent.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Educational success is a strategic priority and the core business of all institutions of learning. Establishing a primary health care service and acting on the health needs of the students is a risk abatement strategy to surmise educational success. A follow-up survey to determine the top ten health impediments on campus is recommended to measure and manage academic and health-related successes.
Description
M.P.H., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010
Keywords
primary health care, North-West Province, South Africa