Interplay between Literacy and Health Services Access: The Case of Elderly Exemption Beneficiaries in Tanzania

Authors

  • Joshua Edward Institute of Adult Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v8i1.494

Keywords:

literacy, exemption policy, health services access and elderly

Abstract

Over the last two decades research has indicated an unpleasant experience for the elderly with exemptions. An important question for this paper is whether the unpleasant exempted experience for the elderly in accessing health services is linked to illiteracy. Since illiteracy can affect how services are used and its results, the answer to this paper’s question could affect how health services are accessed and their associated outcomes. Policy implementors are operating without a solid knowledge of this relationship. The study used a mixed methods approach. Purposive random sampling was applied to select  879 elderly and was guided by research assistants in filling in the questionnaires. Also, purposive sampling was used to recruit 23 key informants. Results indicates a significant relationship between illiteracy and selected indicators of health service access: awareness, acceptability and adequacy. This paper argues for more training opportunities through non-formal programs among adults and communication capacity building among health providers based on the results of implementing the elderly exemption policy in Ubungo and Mbarali districts in Tanzania.

Author Biography

Joshua Edward, Institute of Adult Education

Joshua Edward is a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam. Currently, he holds a teaching position at the Institute of Adult Education. Previously, he worked in the NGO sector as a monitoring, evaluation, research and learning expert. Email: joshuaedward2020@gmail.com

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Published

2021-03-18

How to Cite

Edward, J. (2021). Interplay between Literacy and Health Services Access: The Case of Elderly Exemption Beneficiaries in Tanzania . Journal of Learning for Development, 8(1), 129–145. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v8i1.494

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2021): ISSUE 1

Section

Research Articles

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