Health Seeking Behaviour of Young Adults in Accra, Ghana

Background: Health-seeking behavior encompasses individuals’ actions when facing health issues and can be influenced by various factors, such as socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, and healthcare accessibility. Understanding these behaviors is crucial for improving health outcomes and ensuring effective healthcare utilization. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data on healthcare-seeking behaviors of young adults in Accra. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 330 participants using both convenience and simple random sampling. Results: Majority of respondents reported their health status as good. However, despite generally positive self-assessments, 48.5% of respondents reported being ill in the past three months, with about 50% diagnosing themselves. Using binary logistic regression, the study found that higher social status increased the likelihood of reported illness (OR = 2.47, p = 0.001), whereas self-employment significantly reduced illness risk (OR = 0.27, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Barriers identified with regard to seeking healthcare included lack of education, time constraints, and distance. Raising awareness of the importance of timely healthcare seeking and improving access to healthcare services across communities in Accra may help address these challenges.