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

Authors

  • Jama Dorang Medan Department of Public Health, Maryam Abacha American University of Niger Republic. Author
  • Mahdi Musa Wade Department of Public Health, Maryam Abacha American University of Niger Republic. Author
  • Muhammad, Abdullahi, Sabo PhD Department of Public Health, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano Author
  • Kabiru Mustapha Yakasai PhD Department of Public Health, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano Author

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.

Keywords:

Health-seeking behaviour (HSB), Healthcare system distrust, Elite healthcare utilization, Service quality, Healthcare policy reform

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DOI: 10.70382/ajcms.v8i3.004
Views: 149  
Downloads: 48  

Published

2025-05-15

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Articles

How to Cite

Jama Dorang Medan, Mahdi Musa Wade, Muhammad, Abdullahi, Sabo, & Kabiru Mustapha Yakasai. (2025). Determinants of Health Seeking Behaviour among Elites in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Journal of Clinical and Metabolism Studies, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.70382/ajcms.v8i3.004

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