Determinants of Health Seeking Behaviour Among Elderly in Shao, Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

Health seeking behaviour is the act of making a decision to seek or not to seek health care from qualified medical personnel when not feeling well or sick. The practice of appropriate health seeking has a great potential in reducing the occurrence of severe and life-threatening illnesses. 

This study employed a quantitative approach to examine the health care seeking behaviour and its influencing factors among individuals aged 60 years and older in Shao community, Kwara State. A minimum sample size of 325, calculated using Fisher’s formula, was chosen through multistage sampling techniques. The collated data were analyzed using Epi-info statistical software package version 3.5.1, and statistical tests were conducted using Chi-square method.

Results showed that, out of the 325 participants studied, 233 (71.7%) participants sought medical attention at a health facility during illness, and out of these, 203 (87.1%) were aware of when to visit a health facility. Ninety-two (45.4%) participants pursued alternatives to conventional care due to the high cost of services at health facilities, while 36(17.8%) participants relied on self-belief in alternative methods, and 33 (16.3%) participants perceived their illnesses as not being severe.