Social Determinants and Healthcare-Seeking Patterns: A Sociological Analysis

Abstract The paper examines the connection between social class and healthcare-seeking behavior. It delves into the ways socio-economic stratification affects access and use of healthcare services based on sociological theories including Marxism, Weberian theory, and Bourdieu’s capital theory. The paper depicts the ways in which class-based disparities influence people’s health conditions and behaviors. The principal argument of this research is that health-seeking behavior is not merely a question of individual choice but is deeply influenced by structural issues related to class. The article proposes that social class continues to be a core determinant of healthcare access and decision-making, shaped by economic means, cultural norms, and institutional constraints. Keywords: Social class, healthcare-seeking behavior, health inequality, sociology of health.