SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF THE UTILIZATION OF GERIATRIC HEALTH SERVICES AMONG THE AGED IN NIGERIA

In an ageing global population, the demand for geriatric health services has become an important public health concern because of the increasing proportion of older adults and the health conditions associated with ageing. This paper examined the socioeconomic determinants of the utilisation of geriatric health services in Nigeria. The study adopted a secondary method of data collection, involving a review of relevant journal articles and internet-based scholarly materials on geriatric healthcare utilisation and its socioeconomic determinants. The paper was anchored on Andersen's Behavioural Model of Health Services Use, which explains healthcare utilisation in relation to predisposing, enabling and need factors. The review found that many older adults in Nigeria do not utilise geriatric health services optimally because of socioeconomic and demographic factors, including income, age, ethnicity, family support, place of residence and educational attainment. Limited financial resources, inadequate family support, geographical barriers and restricted access to appropriate healthcare facilities were identified as important constraints on the utilisation of geriatric services. The paper concludes that the utilisation of geriatric health services among older adults in Nigeria remains inadequate and is substantially influenced by socioeconomic conditions. It recommends that the Nigerian government should implement geriatric-specific health policies, including appropriate health insurance coverage for older adults; expand geriatric healthcare services beyond tertiary institutions through dedicated units at primary and secondary healthcare levels; support nationwide research on geriatric healthcare utilisation; and strengthen the training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in geriatric care to improve the delivery of quality health services to older adults.