ABSTRACT
People’s response to illness symptoms whenever they are perceived is dependent on them
and influenced by a plethora of factors which makes them behave differently towards
treatment seeking. With this, the study examined the health seeking behaviour in the
Akuapem-North Municipality. Drawing on Kroeger’s (1983) health service utilisation
model, it specifically examined individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics and other
factors that influence the choice and use of particular health facilities. It also examined the
barriers to health service use and the modes of health service financing in the study area.
The study was a cross-sectional one and adopted the mixed method approach. A four-step
multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select 205 respondents for the individual survey
while respondents for the qualitative facet of the study were randomly selected. The study
reports of general body pains/headache as the predominant illness in the municipality. It
showed higher utilisation of informal than formal medical facilities. Sex, educational level,
income, health insurance, severity of illness and distance to health providers are some of
the factors that significantly influence individuals’ health seeking behaviour in the
Akuapem-North Municipality. However, availability, proximity, longer waiting times and
attitude of staff of health providers are some of the restrictive barriers to utilising formal
health facilities whereas NHIS and out-of-pocket payment are the main modes of health
service financing in the municipality. Conclusively, the study confirms the positive
association between perceived morbidity, illness response and access to and utilisation of
health services emphasised by Kroeger (1983). The study recommends an integration of
both the formal and informal medical systems in order to help improve and assist health
service delivery in the country and especially in the municipality
CDR, C (2021). HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN THE AKUAPEM-NORTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/health-seeking-behaviour-in-the-akuapem-north-municipality-of-ghana
Coalition, CDR. "HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN THE AKUAPEM-NORTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 02 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/health-seeking-behaviour-in-the-akuapem-north-municipality-of-ghana . Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
Coalition, CDR. "HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN THE AKUAPEM-NORTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 02 Apr. 2021. Web. 14 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/health-seeking-behaviour-in-the-akuapem-north-municipality-of-ghana >.
Coalition, CDR. "HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR IN THE AKUAPEM-NORTH MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 14, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/health-seeking-behaviour-in-the-akuapem-north-municipality-of-ghana