PATIENTS’ REASONS CONTRIBUTING TO DELAYED HEALTHCARESEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR NON-PREGNANCY-RELATED ABNORMAL VAGINAL BLEEDING IN BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Globally, non-pregnancy related abnormal vaginal bleeding is common. A United States population-based survey of women ages 18 years and above reported an annual prevalence rate of 53 per 1000 women (Kjerulff, Erickson &Langenberg, 2016). The purpose of this study is to determine patients‘ reasons involved in delayed healthcareseeking behavior for non-pregnancy-related abnormal vaginal bleeding in Bomet, Kenya. The objectives of this study are to describe how individual, health beliefs, and institutional reasons, contribute to delayed healthcare-seeking behavior. A qualitative phenomenological method has been employed with a target population including women aged 18 years and above who have experienced non-pregnancy related abnormal vaginal bleeding. The study used a convenience sampling method for the selection of 17 participants from the inpatient and outpatient departments of Long is a Hospital and Tenwek Hospital (9 participants from Tenwek Hospital and 8participants from Long is a Hospital). In order to determine and select the respondents, the researcher involved clinicians at these two hospitals. The clinicians notified the researcher upon presentation of a woman with a diagnosis of abnormal vaginal bleeding. Using the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, the researcher decided their suitability for the study. The principal investigator and research assistants collected primary data using in-depth interviews. Analysis of the data was completed using the Braun and Clarke framework for thematic analysis with the goal of reaching thematic saturation. NVivo coding was done where the participants‘ voices were assigned codes, categories, and themes. The guiding objectives of the study were found, in most areas, to agree with the findings. In addition, the impact of various demographic data has been explored. The following themes came out of this data; economic, fear, lack of knowledge and patients‘ perception on clinicians‘ competence (professionalism). This knowledge can be translated to the women in the community, women/village leaders as well as healthcare givers and also policymakers. Need for further research was also appreciated in this study.