Healthcare Financing Options and Health-Seeking Patterns Among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Oyo State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31149/ijimm.v4i3.2771Keywords:
Health Financing Options, Health-Seeking Patterns, Out-of-Pocket Expenditure, Under-5 ChildrenAbstract
Health financing options and health-seeking patterns play a crucial role in determining the health outcomes of children under five years. This study examined the relationship between healthcare financing options and the health-seeking patterns of caregivers of children under five attending primary healthcare facilities in Oyo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed among caregivers of under-five children attending selected primary healthcare facilities in Oyo State. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, healthcare financing options, and health-seeking behavior patterns. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while Pearson correlation and chi-square tests were applied to examine relationships between healthcare financing mechanisms and health-seeking patterns. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The study found that the majority of caregivers were female (91.7%), with a mean age of 31 years. Out-of-pocket payment was the predominant healthcare financing method (44.5%), while only a small proportion utilized health insurance (17.8%) or community-based schemes (7.3%). Health-seeking patterns showed that although 41.5% of under-five children experienced illness within the previous three months, only 22.7% of caregivers initially sought care at primary healthcare facilities. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between healthcare financing options and health-seeking patterns (p = 0.000). The findings highlight that healthcare financing mechanisms significantly influence caregivers’ health-seeking patterns for children under five. A heavy reliance on out-of-pocket payments contributes to delayed health-seeking, whereas insurance and financial preparedness improve timely care-seeking. Strengthening health insurance coverage and expanding financial protection mechanisms are critical for improving uptake of health services.
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