Health Seeking Behaviour And Quality Of Life Among Older Adults In The La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipality

Thumbnail Image

Date

2022-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: It is projected that 21.1% of the world’s population will be aged 60 years or older by 2050 with 80% of them living in low-and-middle income countries. Aging is a desired process accompanied with health-related challenges and disabilities, which affect the quality of life of the older adults. The health challenges associated with aging require regular health care service utilization. Health seeking behaviour is the act of deciding to seek or not to seek care from qualified medical personnel when not feeling well. This study examined factors associated with health seeking behaviour and quality of life of older adults in the La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Area. Objective: The main objective of this study is to examine factors associated with health seeking behaviour and quality of life of older adults in the La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Area. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed to examine health seeking behavior and quality of life among older adults aged 60 years and above in the La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select participants for the study. Data on quality of life was collected using EQ-5D questionnaire, a standardized measure of health status developed by the EuroQol Group. Face-to-face interviews were carried out among the participants. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Univariate analysis was performed; chi-square test of association done at the bivariate level and logistic regression analysis was done to determine predictors of good health seeking behaviour. Results: A total of 465 older adults were interviewed. The average age of respondents in this study was 76.97±11.38 years old. The majority 371 (80%) were staying with relatives; either their University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh x children 205 (55.3%) or partners/spouses 128 (34.5%). Most of them 341 (73.5%) have subscribed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) sought care from public health facilities. More than half, 243(52.4%) of the adults sought regular medical check-up. Only 69 (14.9%) resort to self-medication. Respondents between 80-89 years old have 1.6 times the odds of having regular medical check-up compared to those aged 60-69 years old. Education (Χ2=29.967, p<0.001), staying with a relative (Χ2=27.793, p<0.001), profession (Χ2=27.184, p<0.001), receiving income (Χ2=5. 810, p=0.016), subscribing to some health insurance (Χ2=32.974, p<0.001) were significantly associated with positive health seeking behaviour. Adults with health insurance were 8.4 times more likely to go for regular medical check-up than those who were not insured (AOR=8.4, CI: 2.398-29.502). Participants without health insurance were 73% less likely to go for regular medical check-ups than those who have. Older adults who do not receive support from their family members were 59% times less likely to go for regular medical check-ups compared to those who receive support. Older adults who received support from their family members were (AOR=4.3, CI: 1.489-12.441) times more likely to go for regular medical check-up than those without family support. Conclusion: Older adults in the municipality are conscious of their health care needs. More than half of them sought regular medical check-up from public health facilities. Very few resort to self-medication. Families should support the elderly while government enrol them into the NHIS to enable them seeking health care regularly.

Description

MPH

Keywords

La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipality, Among Older Adults, Quality Of Life

Citation

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By