SOCIAL AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF HEALTH CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN NDOKWA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE

Abstract

Health care seeking behaviour of older adults has been ascertained as an essential step
that improves health outcomes. On the other hand, delays can cause prolonged suffering,
emotional stress and decreased quality of life due to worsening symptoms. These can
further lead to significant burdens on the families; leading to increased caregiving needs,
emotional stress and financial strain. Despite these, there is a dearth of studies on health
care seeking behaviour; specifically, among older adults in Ndokwa East Local
Government Area (LGA). This study therefore, examined social and contextual factors as
predictors of health care seeking behaviour (HCSB) among older adults in Ndokwa East
LGA, Delta State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted, while a self
developed questionnaire was used for data collection from three hundred and fifteen
(315) respondents. Frequency count, percentages, mean, standard deviation and multiple
regression were used for the analysis. The result of this study revealed that, the level of
HCSB was high (weighted mean=3.22) among older adults in Ndokwa East LGA. Result
also revealed that there was a significant joint prediction of social factors on health care
seeking behaviour among the respondents (F(3,312)=7.893, p<0.05). There were
significant relative predictions of social factors of caregiver support (β=0.146, p<0.05)
and stigma (β=-0.165, p<0.05) on HCSB. There was a significant joint prediction of
contextual factors on HCSB among older adults in Ndokwa East LGA (F(3,312)=4.735,
p<0.05). There were significant relative predictions of contextual factors of availability
(β=-0.138, p<0.05) and accessibility to healthcare service (β=0.134, p<0.05) on HCSB.
Conclusion was made that, the level of health care seeking behaviour was high among
older adults in Ndokwa East LGA. There were significant joint predictions of social and
contextual factors on health care seeking behaviour respectively. There were significant joint relative prediction of caregiver support and stigma, availability and accessibility to
healthcare service on health care seeking behaviour respectively. It was therefore,
recommended among others that the authority of Ndokwa East Local Government Area
of Delta State should prioritize increasing the number of healthcare professionals,
equipping facilities with adequate medical technology.