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Article Information:
Factors Associated with Delay in Seeking Medical Care among Educated Nigerians
Comfort O. Chukuezi and Anelechi B. Chukuezi
Corresponding Author: Anelechi Chukuezi
Submitted: 2009 Month, 00
Accepted: 2009 July, 27
Published: |
Abstract:
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Seeking medical attention by the sick is a public health problem. This study objective was to
determine the barriers that hinder seeking of adequate medical care among the educated population in a tertiary
institution. By means of a semi-structured questionnaires data was collected in a survey of 355 students and
staff of Federal University of Technology, Owerri between November 2007 and April 2008.. Majority of the
respondents, 254 (71.53%) were in the age group of 20 to 30 years. 49.25% admitted that they see the doctor
immediately they fall sick while 36.06% preferred to go first to a pharmacy and 12.96% to the patent medicine
dealer to buy drugs for self medication without prescription. Only 1.69% opted to consult a priest or go to a
prayer house. 37.18% follow treatment for a similar complaint as first line of treatment. Among barriers and
factors that cause delay are, waiting time to see the doctor 45.71%; delayed attention in the hospital 42.25%;
waiting to see how the illness goes 22.82%; cost of treatment 16.34% and inaccessibility or distance to the
nearest doctor 2.25%. 88.45% of all those surveyed stated that medical facilities in Nigeria were grossly
inadequate. Despite the level of education of the respondents, our findings indicate that there is need for proper
health education of the populace to remove these barriers that delay in seeking medical care.
Key words: Care, delays, educated, medical, Nigerians, seeking,
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Cite this Reference:
Comfort O. Chukuezi and Anelechi B. Chukuezi, . Factors Associated with Delay in Seeking Medical Care among Educated Nigerians. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, (2): Page No: 30-32.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-8773
ISSN (Print): 2040-8765 |
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