The influence of sociodemographic behavioural variables on health-seeking behaviour and the utilisation of public and private hospitals in Ghana

PurposeSeveral studies have described health-seeking behaviour within the context of various diseases, the health status and age group. However, knowledge on patient health-seeking behaviour in the use of public and private hospitals and socio-demographic characteristics in developing countries is s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of sociology and social policy Vol. 42; no. 5/6; pp. 455 - 472
Main Authors: Adongo, Awinaba Amoah, Dapaah, Jonathan Mensah, Azumah, Francess Dufie, Onzaberigu Nachinaab, John
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Bingley Emerald Publishing Limited 10.05.2022
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Subjects:
Age groups
Behavior
Chi-square test
Data collection
Demography
Developing countries
Educational attainment
Gender
Health
Health behavior
Health care delivery
Health care industry
Health care policy
Health facilities
Health insurance
Health services
Health services utilization
Health status
Help seeking behavior
Hospitals
Illnesses
Information services
LDCs
Marital status
Patients
Policy making
Practitioner patient relationship
Private hospitals
Public health
Quantitative analysis
Research design
Research methodology
Sex education
Social structure
Sociodemographics
Sociology
Statistics
Value
Variables
Ghana
Africa
Health-seeking behaviour
Utilization of public and private healthcare
Socio-demographic characteristics
ISSN:0144-333X, 1758-6720
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:PurposeSeveral studies have described health-seeking behaviour within the context of various diseases, the health status and age group. However, knowledge on patient health-seeking behaviour in the use of public and private hospitals and socio-demographic characteristics in developing countries is still scarce. This paper examines the influence of socio-demographic behavioural variables on health-seeking behaviour and the use of public and private health facilities in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research approach uses the modified SERVQUAL dimension as a data collection tool. Descriptive statistics with Pearson's chi-square test were conducted to determine the relationship between socio-demographic behavioural variables and health-seeking behaviour of patients using public and private hospitals.FindingsThe results showed that there is a significant relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics (sex, marital status, education, level of income) and the health-seeking behaviour of patients in regard to the utilisation of public and private health facilities (p < 0.000).Originality/valueThere is a significant relationship between patients' socio-demographic variables and their choice and utilisation of public and private healthcare services. This information is of value to policy makers so that they have an idea on the socio-demographic behavioural variables that influence patients' health-seeking behaviour.
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ISSN:0144-333X
1758-6720
DOI:10.1108/IJSSP-03-2021-0068