AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG ADULTS ATTENDING FAMILY MEDICINE CLINICS

Shahad Husham Shukur*, Esraa Khalaf Ibrahim, Maryam Ahmed Shihab

ABSTRACT

Background: Preventive health services are fundamental to reducing disease burden and improving population health outcomes, with family medicine clinics serving as key access points. Despite their proven benefits, utilization often remains suboptimal, influenced by factors such as awareness, socio-demographic characteristics, and healthcare system barriers. This study aimed to assess the awareness and utilization of preventive health services among adults attending family medicine clinics. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 adult patients attending family medicine clinics. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, capturing socio-demographic information, awareness of various preventive services (e.g., screenings, vaccinations, lifestyle counseling), and self-reported utilization. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and associations between variables were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Awareness was highest for blood pressure measurement (88.6%) and blood sugar testing (84.3%), but lower for cancer screenings (57.1%) and lifestyle counseling (51.4%). Utilization followed a similar pattern, with blood pressure measurement being the most utilized service (80%), while cancer screenings (37.1%) and lifestyle counseling (28.6%) were underutilized. Higher education levels were significantly associated with greater service utilization (88.2% in university-educated participants vs. 37.5% in those with no formal education). The most common reasons for non-utilization were perceived good health (40%) and lack of awareness (34.3%). Conclusion: While awareness of basic preventive services is high among adults in family medicine settings, utilization remains inconsistent, particularly for services requiring proactive engagement. Educational level, health perceptions, and accessibility are key influencing factors. Targeted interventions, including patient education, structured follow-up, and enhanced patient-provider communication, are needed to bridge the gap between awareness and practice and improve preventive health outcomes.

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