ORIGINAL ARTICLES Socio-demographic Factors associated with Health-Seeking Behaviour and Clinical Outcomes among Patients attending Health Insurance Facility of a Teaching Hospital in Southwestern Nigeria

West Afr J Med . 2023 May 27;40(5):546-552.

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Background: Inappropriate health-seeking behaviour has been associated with unfavourable health outcomes. This study determined the association between socio-demographic characteristics and health-seeking behaviour and the association between health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes of patients attending the health insurance clinic of a tertiary hospital.

Methods: The study was carried out between July and November 2021, involving patients who attended the NHIS clinic, of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, between 2009 and 2018. The records were reviewed, and data about their socio-demographic characteristics, the period between when symptoms started and the time of presentation in the clinic with the outcome of the patient, were extracted and analysed.

Results: A total of 12,200 patients were seen within the period under review. Females were 51.1%, Yorubas were 92.0%, Christians 95.5%, 51.1% had tertiary education, and 32.5% had primary education. Looking at timely reporting, 58% reported at the clinic 48 hours after symptoms while 23% reported within 24 hours. Of those who presented within 24 hours, 13.1% were admitted compared to 2.2% of those who presented after 48 hours. The association between timeliness of reporting and outcome was statistically significant with p value < 0.05.

Conclusion: The severity of the illness determined the timeliness of presentation at the Clinic despite being insured. Social and behavioural change intervention is recommended for attitudinal change to improve health-seeking behaviour.

Keywords: Clinical outcomes; Health Insurance; Health-Seeking behaviour; Socio-demographic factors.

O A Solomon ¹, O O Solomon ², Y O Akinola ³, A E Olusola ³, D O Ibirongbe ⁴