DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND UNMET NEED AMONG PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Generally people with disabilities have high healthcare need that is likely as a result of primary condition causing the disability, comorbidity or their vulnerability to diseases. Despite these health challenges and need for healthcare those living in poor countries have poor healthcare seeking behaviour and experience unmet healthcare needs. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional population based survey was used to collect data from 285 respondent recruited using multi-stage sampling methods Result: Result from multiple regression analysis shows several variables independently to be significantly with healthcare seeking behaviour such as gender, age, location, SES, health status, and perceived cost of healthcare. Report of unmet needs for healthcare is associated with gender, age, location, SES, income, health status, distance, and perceived service quality. Conclusion: If the healthcare needs of people with disability have to be met, innovative strategies will need to be devised to reach out to people with disabilities, especially women, elderly and the poor with disabilities.