Authors : Tanimola , M. Akande and Julius O. Owoyemi
Abstract: This study of health seeking behaviour of household members in Anyigba, North Central Nigeria. Total 333 respondents were randomly selected and self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect data on household health seeking behaviour. Descriptive and inferential methods were used to analyze the data. The mean age of respondents was 39.65±11.12 years, >3 quarter were married. The mean, median and mode delay time before seeking treatment were 9.89±46.03, 3.0 and 2.0 days, respectively. The major reason for the delay in seeking treatment as reported by 56.9% was the thought that they would get over the ailment without treatment and 25.4% of respondents delayed because of lack of money for treatment. Less than half (44.7%) of those who sought treatment patronized public health facility. The study showed that significantly higher proportion of the low income than high income people patronize drug sellers for treatment and higher proportion of the high income people than low income patronize private health facilities. Delay in receiving care for health problems can be costly and dangerous, it is necessary to increase awareness and to health educate people on this problem. Generally, more people in the study population patronize private health facilities, people’s confidence in public health facilities need to be improved in Nigeria and should be made more accessible to people for improvement in the health status of Nigerians.
Tanimola , M. Akande and Julius O. Owoyemi , 2009. Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour in Anyigba, North-Central, Nigeria. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 3: 47-51.