PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

1.1 Introduction

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) health seeking behavior is positively correlated with one being older, with a higher education profile, in a marriage partnership and from the male gender, as observed in several studies (Begashaw et al., 2016; Rasul et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2015). Most of these studies contextually focused on only one aspect geographically, hardly giving room for comparison of results from other aspects. Another study however showed that females with NCDs were noted to seek out healthcare more compared to the males, contrasting earlier findings. Having more than one NCD was associated with increased chances of seeking qualified health care, according to Jankovic et al., (2018).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

For hundreds of years, communicable diseases or infectious diseases were the main causes of death worldwide. Uncontrolled epidemics were the main threat to life expectancy. As the world entered the new millennium, with medical research achievements in terms of vaccination, antibiotics and improvement of life conditions, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) started taking place in industrialized countries. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic pulmonary and mental diseases became a real burden for health systems in developed countries. The four main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Ageing, urbanization, and unhealthy lifestyles are some of the factors driving these diseases. The vulnerability of NCDs and risk factors is spread over all age groups including Children, adults and the elderly (Boutayeb A. & Boutayeb S. 2005).

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are also termed chronic diseases. NCDs are collectively responsible for 71% of all deaths worldwide. Almost three quarters of all NCD deaths, and 82% of the 16 million people who died prematurely, or before reaching 70 years of age, occur in lowand middle-income countries. NCDs also account for 48% of the healthy life years lost worldwide. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide than all other causes combined.

Health seeking behavior has variably been described as a succession of events assumed by individuals as remedial to perceived ill-health (Ndarukwa et al., 2020). Consequently, various Strategic and targeted health programs and policies globally have been anchored on the knowledge of the health-seeking behavior of individuals and communities and the factors influencing these behaviors (Begashaw et al., 2016; Shaikh & Hatcher, 2005).

Since health-seeking behavior has been described as a composite outcome influenced by interplay of various factors, including socio-demographic, socio-economic, availability, access and affordability of medical services, an understanding of these factors has been noted to be very critical (Begashaw et al., 2016).

In the developing countries, non-communicable diseases are also emerging as a major public health concern, and this is believed to be an attribute of the effects of industrialization, e.g. adoption of a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, cigarette smoking and risky alcohol intake, coupled with improved health care in infection control and improved general mean life expectancy (Yusuf et al., 2001).

Early utilization of health care service for diagnostic and treatment purposes has been indicated to reduce morbidity, disability and mortality of individuals and communities (Jankovic et al., 2018). Chronic Non-communicable Diseases (CNCDs), on the other hand, are associated with poor prognosis, majorly due to treatment delays attributable to socio-economic and demographic factors like age, gender knowledge gaps and the associated out of pocket payments (Agarwal et al., 2011; Õiglane-Šlik, 2007).

Therefore, in FCT Abuja where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Prevalence and Factors Associated with Health Seeking Behavior for Non Communicable Diseases in.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the country has been experiencing an epidemiological shift in disease burden from communicable to Chronic Non-communicable diseases, which contribute to over 50% hospital admission and over 55% hospital deaths with fifty-one percent of the NCDs mortalities reported to be from people aged 70 years and below. They have also been reported to contribute to 30.2 %of all the DALYs in Nigeria, (Ministry of Health, 2015).

NCDs are preventable and largely controllable, there has been a persistent increase in the cases being reported owing to the increasing risk factors associated with these illnesses. According to the Kenya step-wise survey for NCD risk factors 2015, 13 percent of the Kenyan population is reported to consume some form of tobacco while a similar number consumes alcohol on a daily basis. Over 50 percent have never taken measurements for high blood pressure and 22 percent of those already diagnosed are not in any form of medication (Statistics, 2015).

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Prevalence and Factors Associated with Health Seeking Behavior for Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the health-seeking behavior for Non Communicable Diseases among individuals in the area under study;
2. To identify the factors that influence health seeking behaviour among individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in the area under study;
3. To estimate the effect of socio-demographic and economic factors on health seeking behavior for individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in the area under study; and
4. To suggest the possible solution towards eradicating the socioeconomic and demographic factors that influencing the health seeking behavior for individuals.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the health-seeking behavior for Non Communicable Diseases in the area under study?
• What are the factors that influence health seeking behaviour among individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in the area under study?
• What is the effect of socio-demographic and economic factors on health seeking behavior for individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in the area under study?
• What are the possible solutions towards eradicating the socioeconomic and demographic factors that influencing the health seeking behavior for individuals?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant effect of socio-demographic and economic factors on health seeking behavior for individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja
• H1: There is a significant effect of socio-demographic and economic factors on health seeking behavior for individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There are no significant factors that influence health seeking behaviour among individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja
• H1: There are significant factors that influence health seeking behaviour among individuals with Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja

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1.7 Significance of Study

The study findings will benefit policymakers and planners, particularly in Nigeria, with information on how various social-demographic and economic factors affect health-seeking behavior of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) households.

This study findings showcase that financial empowerment is very crucial for individuals suffering from chronic diseases, therefore the need to make plans for financial support to ensure they receive financial protection while seeking care.

Policy makers will be able to use these study findings to make policy reforms that would encourage movement towards universal coverage, in the attainment of the sustainable millennial goals.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Prevalence and Factors Associated with Health Seeking Behavior for Non Communicable Diseases in FCT Abuja.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).