Socio-Economic Determinants On Health Seeking Behaviour Among Households In Marani Sub-County, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

With differing degrees of success, many strategies have been put into practise to improve health-seeking behaviour and provide all Kenyans with access to healthcare. Changes in policy about co-financing health care and the introduction, removal, and reintroduction of user fees are two examples. Additionally, although with little success, attempts have been made to create a National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) that covers everyone. In Marani sub county, there is a noted delay in seeking health among the households that notably leads to advancement of diseases to levels that they need referrals yet if the same was handled early enough treatment could be handled in the nearby district hospital. The study intended to assess socioeconomic determinants influencing health seeking behavior in Marani subcounty, Kisii County. This is because health seeking behavior is poorly practiced resulting to high mortality, low life expectancy, and high morbidity among households that consequently hinders development in the region. The study sought to: examine the effect of household income on healthy seeking behaviour, analyse the extent to which educational level affects health seeking behaviour and assess the contribution of gender to health seeking behavior among households in Marani Sub County. The study was guided by the functionalism theory by Auguste Comte and the Capability theory by Amartya Sen. The population for the study was household heads from which a sample for the study was drawn. A total of 409 household heads filled the questionnaires a sample drawn from the population of 26, 186 households in Marani Sub-County. Reliability was tested through a test retest and validity was established through the guidance of research experts. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Correlation analysis was done using statistical significance tests. Data was presented in frequency tables and graphs. The results showed that household income has a statistically significant relationship with health seeking behavior. There is significant and statistically significant relationship between educational levels and health seeking behavior. However, gender has no statistically significant relationship with health seeking behavior. The study concluded that household income promoted the choice and opportunity of health seeking. For desired health seeking, cost comes in to deter, delay or effect utilization of healthcare services. Poor and disadvantaged households as regards to income find it costly to access health facilities and are thus likely to utilize less effective healthcare sources or adopt practices that could affect desired health seeking behaviours. The study recommends that education level, from the study determines health seeking behavior. The government should embrace health seeking programs through ministry of health and education to train and teach people about their well-being. This will ensure the people are equipped with the power to negotiate towards their wellbeing in this case health, well understand health related information and be able to pay attention to their lifestyles.