Determinants of Health Seeking Behaviour among Elites in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study explores the determinants of health-seeking behaviour (HSB) among elites in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. Despite their access to financial, educational, and informational resources, Nigerian elites often exhibit selective, delayed, or externally oriented healthcare utilization patterns, frequently opting for international medical services. Adopting a descriptive cross-sectional design and a stratified random sampling method, the study surveyed 414 elite residents using a structured questionnaire. Key dimensions examined included the level of HSB, patient-related influences, and systemic healthcare factors. Findings revealed that HSB levels among elites were significantly high (???? < 0.001), although personal and cultural factors had only modest associations. In contrast, systemic factors such as service quality, staff professionalism, and healthcare facility reputation strongly influenced elite health choices. The study highlights how distrust in local health infrastructure, sociocultural status signalling, and access to international healthcare contribute to underutilization of domestic services. These patterns raise critical implications for healthcare equity, policy reform, and sustainable national development. Recommendations include restoring trust in local systems through policy-driven quality improvements and engaging elites as stakeholders in healthcare reform.