PATTERN AND TREND OF HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR: A CASE OF NSUKKA SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

BEATRICE D ADEOYE

Department of Sociology

Federal University, Oye – Ekiti.Ekiti State.

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CITATION: Adeoye,. B .D.(2015). Pattern and Trend of Health Seeking Behaviour: A Case of Nsukka Southeast Nigeria. International Journal of Innovation and Management 4 (11), 1-15.

ABSTRACT

This empirical study explores Pattern and trend of health seeking behavior. The study was carried out in Nsukka; it used both qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 543 respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The findingsof the study shows that few respondents (8%) go to the hospital/clinic for treatment or diagnosis when they are sick especially for common illnesses. Many respondents (39.4%) engaged in self-diagnosis, while some people (36.4%) believe in medicine store as the next alternative for diagnosis. Based on the findings the study recommended that,Since people still seriously engage in self-medication and making adequate use of alternative medicine,there should be enlightenment and educative programme for people on the basic issue about common illness and first hand ways of handling them before going to hospital. This will help individuals to some extent to handle these common illnesses in a proper way and make people to be more acquainted to health issues.

Key Words: Alternative medicine, Common illness, Health seeking behavior, Self-medication, Symptom,

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