DETERMINANTS OF PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on the determinants of perceived health status of rural households in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identified the health care facilities available to the respondents, determined the respondents’ perception of their health status and their health care needs. It also determined the respondents’ level of utilisation of available health care facilities and determined the frequency of occurrence of common health care facilities. In addition, it examined the factors influencing their health status. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 240 respondents with the use of validated questionnaire. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics tools used included frequency distribution, mean, charts. Inferential statistics used included Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) used to test Hypothesis 1 stated as ‘There is no significant difference in the respondents’ perceived health status in relation to their socio-economic characteristics’. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and regression analysis were used to test Hypothesis 2 stated as ‘There is no significant relationship between the perceived health status of respondents and their utilisation of health care services provided’. The findings revealed that male (62.1%) dominated the respondents. The mean age of the respondents was 48.01 years and majority (90.4%) of them were married. The dominant religion was Christianity (75.4%), while majority (81.3%) of the respondents were engaged in farming and average farm size was 1.56 hectares. The most available health care facilities in the respondents’ communities were the Patent medicine stores (64.2%). The findings revealed that majority (92.1%) of the respondents had a fair health status. Patent medicine store had the highest level of utilisation with a mean score of 3.35; while dispensaries has the least with a mean score of 1.08. Common health challenges experienced by the respondents included malaria, abdominal pain, cough, typhoid among others. The regression analysis revealed level of utilization of the available health facilities (b = 3.47, p = 0.00), walking distance to the facilities (b = -0.04, p = 0.01), transport fare (b = 0.03, p = 0.00), age of respondents (b = 0.25, p = 0.01), total annual income (b=4.00, p=0.05) and household size (b = -1.31, p = 0.00) as the factors influencing the respondents’ health status. The serious constraints to utilization of rural health care service included ‘distance to facility’, high billing cost, high cost of medication, lack of qualified medical personnel, lack of basic infrastructure and poor/inefficient system. Results of Analysis of Variance revealed a significant difference in the respondents’ health status with respect to their primary occupation (f = 3.33, p = 0.01), education (f = 3.80, p = 0.00) and farm size (f = 6.25, p = 0.00) at 0.05 level of significance. For education, differences existed between those that ‘Completed Secondary Education’ (Mean = 157.42) and those with ‘no formal education’ (Mean = 186.11). Differences also existed between those on ‘2-5 hectare’ (Mean = 154.88) and those on ‘< 2 hectare’ (Mean = 169.90) for farm size. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) revealed that level of utilisation of health care service; traditional homes (r = 0.38; p < 0.01), General hospitals (r = 0.23; p < 0.01), Private hospitals/clinics (r = 0.32; p < 0.01), Maternity centres (r = 0.14; p < 0.05), Patent medicine stores (r = 0.20; p < 0.01), Local herbalists (r = 0.32; p (0.01) Dispensaries (r = 0.13; p < 0.05) and Health Centre (r = 0.22; p < 0.01) significantly correlated with the health status of the respondents. The study revealed that the level of utilisation of the health facilities by the respondents, their walking distance, transport fare, age, total annual income and household size were the determinants of the perceived health status in the study area. A vast majority of the respondents (92.1%) had fair health status. The study recommends that technical capacity of operators of Patent medicine stores be developed through trainings to enable them properly address rural health issues. The rural areas should also be developed with more infrastructural facilities to encourage medical personnel reside in the areas.