Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 23-29
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260304
Factors Influencing Healthcare Facility Choice Among Older Adults in Ekiti, Nigeria: Implications for Health Literacy
Felix Olukayode Aina1,2, Olusoji Abidemi Solomon1,2, Tosin Anthony Agbesanwa1,2, John Ayodeji Owoyemi1,2, Joseph Olusesan Fadare3,4
1Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti
2Department of Family Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti
3Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti
4Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti
Corresponding Author: Felix Olukayode Aina
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Healthcare facility choice among older adults is a reflection of individual capacities and health system characteristics. Understanding the key determinants of this choice is very important for improving access and equity in healthcare delivery especially low- and middle-income countries with limited resources.
Objective: This study was designed to identify the sociodemographic and health system factors associated with healthcare facility choice among older adults in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among community dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above. Data were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Information sought included sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare utilization patterns, and facility choice. Healthcare facilities were classified into primary, secondary/tertiary, and private hospitals. Inferential statistics were performed to identify factors associated with facility choice.
Results: Secondary/tertiary public hospitals were the most commonly utilized among older adults. Educational attainment was the only sociodemographic factor significantly associated with healthcare facility choice with higher levels of education associated with greater use of secondary/tertiary facilities.
Conclusion: Educational attainment plays an important role in determining healthcare facility choice among older adults in Ekiti State. This underscores the importance of health literacy in later life. Interventions aimed at equitable utilization of public health facilities should incorporate health literacy and the three-tier nature of Nigerian healthcare system.
Keywords: Healthcare facility choice; older adults; influencing factors; health literacy.
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