Bivariate probit analysis of determinants of health status and health care seeking behaviour among the older persons in Ghana

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze of determinants of health status outcomes and health care seeking behaviour of older persons in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Nationally representative sample of household and individual data in 2017/17– the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS 7)–is used for the analysis. Bivariate probit regression model, which produces more efficient and consistent estimates, is used to analyze the determinants of health status and health care utilization. Findings The paper employs the three sets of factors –A predisposing, enabling and need factors – proposed by Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, to explain the results. On the predisposing factors, the paper finds that age, gender and education influence the seeking behaviour of older persons in Ghana. Again, receipt of remittances and pension (for enabling factors) and being sick (for needs factor) came out as drivers of healthcare utilization among older persons in Ghana. Originality/value This paper is the first study to use a nationally representative dataset and employ a bivariate probit model that addresses the possible endogeneity problem to simultaneously analyze the determinants of health status and health-seeking behaviour of older persons in Ghana. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2025-0221.