Health status and factors influencing healthcare choices among leafy vegetable farmers in Calabar agricultural zone, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study investigated the health status and factors influencing healthcare choices among leafy vegetables (waterleaf and fluted pumpkin) farmers in Calabar Agricultural Zone, Cross River State Nigeria. Specifically, this study sought to: assess the health status of the leafy vegetable farmers in the study area by identifying the common illnesses they suffer and days of being off-farm as a result of ill health; identify the choices of healthcare used by the farmers and determine socio-economic factors influencing their choices. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 240 leafy vegetable farmers from the study area. Primary data were collected using a set of structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables, means, frequencies, percentages, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation; and inferential statistics such as multinomial logit regression. Results from the study show that malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, stomach upset, farm injuries, skin rashes, respiratory disease, and body pain/fatigue were the prevalent illnesses in the study area. The majority of the farmers (37.5%) preferred Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). Household size, waiting time, and distance had a significant influence on the choice of PHCs over other alternatives. The study recommends an increase in the use of insecticide-treated mosquitoe nets by farmers in the study area. The study also called for adequate training and staffing of PHCs to reduce the waiting time and better serve the people.