DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND DELAYED HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION AMONG ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/0f34f133Keywords:
: Health-seeking behaviour, Healthcare utilization, Self-medication, Access to careAbstract
In this cross-sectional study involving 400 adults, health-seeking behaviour and healthcare utilization patterns revealed important insights into how individuals respond to illness and access healthcare services. Self-medication emerged as one of the most common initial responses to health problems, with many participants opting to purchase medications directly from pharmacies before consulting healthcare professionals. Pharmacy services were frequently utilized as a first point of contact because of their accessibility, convenience, and perceived cost-effectiveness. Public and private healthcare facilities were used by comparable proportions of participants, indicating that both sectors play a significant role in healthcare delivery. However, considerable variation existed in the timeliness of care-seeking behaviour. A substantial proportion of respondents reported delaying medical consultation despite experiencing symptoms that warranted professional evaluation. Analysis of determinants of delayed healthcare utilization demonstrated that several socioeconomic and accessibility-related factors significantly influenced health-seeking decisions. Individuals with lower educational attainment were less likely to seek timely medical care, potentially due to limited health literacy and awareness regarding disease severity. Similarly, lower-income participants experienced greater delays, reflecting the financial barriers associated with healthcare access. Rural residence was independently associated with delayed care-seeking, highlighting persistent geographic disparities in healthcare availability and accessibility. Lack of health insurance further increased the likelihood of postponing treatment, emphasizing the protective role of financial coverage in facilitating healthcare utilization. Additionally, greater distance from healthcare facilities was a significant barrier, reducing access to timely medical services. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed that low education, lower income, rural residence, absence of insurance coverage, and increased travel distance remained independent predictors of delayed healthcare-seeking behaviour. These findings demonstrate that health-seeking behaviour is strongly shaped by socioeconomic status and healthcare accessibility. The high prevalence of self-medication and delayed care-seeking among disadvantaged populations underscores the need for targeted health education programs, improved healthcare outreach, strengthened primary care services, expanded insurance coverage, and policies aimed at reducing geographic and financial barriers to healthcare access. Such interventions may promote timely healthcare utilization, improve health outcomes, and reduce health inequities within the population
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