The Determinants of Health Care Utilization among the Elderly in a Rural Community in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the determinants of health care utilization among the elderly in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State Nigeria. The study was cross-sectional in design. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted and 1217 elderly aged 65+ were randomly selected. Health care utilization was operationalized as whether the respondent sought biomedical treatment or not when they took ill. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The mean age of the elderly was 72.3±8.4 years and a larger proportion was females. About 59% were in monogamous family and more than one-third were living with chronic conditions. Socioeconomic status, types of family and living with chronic conditions were the determinants of biomedical health care utilization. An increase in socio-economic status increased the odds of seeking biomedical treatment, and those in polygamous family were more likely to seek biomedical health treatment. Those living with chronic conditions had higher odds of seeking biomedical treatment compared to those with no chronic illness. Since the elderly seems to use biomedical health care, there is need for the government to ensure that the health care services are accessible and affordable for them, most especially for those living with chronic conditions.