Factors associated with health-seeking behaviour among informal sector workers in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana

Abstract

Even though studies have established that informal sector workers are prone to occupational-related diseases, not much is known about their health-seeking behaviour. This study aims to examine drivers of health-seeking behaviour among informal sector workers in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 350 informal sector workers. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. The study revealed that 33.5% of the participants practiced good health-seeking behaviour when they developed occupational-related diseases in 2016. The study further revealed that informal sector workers with five or more dependents (AOR: 8.482; CI: 1.265–56.872; p = 0.028) and those who spent more than an hour at a health facility (AOR: 24.040; CI: 8.508–67.927; p < 0.0001) were more probable to exhibit good health-seeking behaviour. Informal sector workers without active National Health Insurance Scheme [NHIS] (AOR: 0.149; CI: 0.052–0.430; p < 0.0001) and employees were less likely to adopt good health-seeking behaviour. Given the limited formal healthcare system and resources available, socio-demographic factors should be taken into consideration when formulating policies to encourage informal sector workers to adopt good health-seeking behaviour.

Keywords:

• Occupational Diseases
• Health-seeking behaviour
• Informal Sector Workers
• Kumasi Metropolitan Area
• Ghana
• Occupational Health
• Developing Countries

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge our study participants for providing the study data and the authors and publishers whose works were consulted.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution

DA conceived the study, DA and AAM contributed to the design, WA-D and LA-G collected the data, DA and AAM analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript, WA-D and LA-G reviewed the draft. DA, WA-D, LA-G and AAM addressed the review comments. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology gave the approval to conduct the study. Informed written and verbal consents were obtained from study participants before data were collected. Respondents were also assured of strict confidentiality and anonymity of the data they provided.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Dina Adei

Dr. Mrs Dina Adei holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology, a Masters of Science in Development Policy and Planning and a PhD in Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. She also holds a Certificate in Occupational Health Nursing from University of California, Irvine, and is a board Certified Registered Nurse in California. She joined the Department of Planning in January 2006. Currently she is a senior lecturer in the department. Dr. Mrs Dina Adei has interest in development economics, health planning and occupational health and safety issues.

Anthony Acquah Mensah

Mr. Anthony Acquah Mensah holds a Master of Philosophy in Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Development Planning from the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He served as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Department of Planning from 2016 to 2017 academic year. He has co-authored and published more than one peer-reviewed articles in reputable international journals. Anthony Acquah Mensah has interest in land governance, sustainable and inclusive cities, and health planning.

Williams Agyemang-Duah

Mr. Williams Agyemang-Duah holds an M.Sc. in Development Policy and Planning from the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Geography and Rural Development in the same university and served as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the department. He has co-authored and published more than 43 peer-reviewed articles in reputable international journals such as GeoJournal (Springer), Journal of Transport & Health (Elsevier), BMC Public Health, Journal of Gerontological Social Work (Taylor and Francis), Journal of Integrative Medicine (Elsevier), Cogent Medicine, BMC Geriatrics, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, Land Use Policy (Elsevier), Cogent Economics and Finance, Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy (BMC), Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (SAGE), BMC Research Notes, Journal of Public Health (Springer), International Journal for Equity in Health (BMC), BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (Sage) Forests, Trees and Livelihoods (Taylor and Francis), International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (Elsevier), Journal of Renewable Energy (Hindawi), Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (Elsevier), Cogent Social Sciences and Geography Journal (Hindawi) He serves as a regular reviewer for journals such as International Journal for Equity in Health (BMC), Gerontology, and Geriatric Medicine (SAGE), Development in Practice (Taylor and Francis), Journal of Affective Disorders (Elsevier), International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (Elsevier), Journal of Public Affairs (John Wiley and Sons), Public Health in Practice (Elsevier), Forum for Development Studies (Taylor and Francis), Journal of Social Service Research (Taylor and Francis), African Health Sciences (Makerere University Medical School, Uganda, BMC Public Health, Journal of Public Health (Springer) and Health Research Policy and Systems (BMC). His research interest covers population ageing, public health, health services/planning research, informal/family caregiving, human-environment relationships and any other related social science research. His research utilizes qualitative, quantitative, and a mix of the two approaches. He welcomes any form of collaboration in his field of specialization.

Lewis Aboagye-Gyasi

Mr. Lewis Aboagye-Gyasi holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Development Planning from the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He served as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Department of Planning from 2020 to 2021 academic year. Lewis Aboagye-Gyasi has interest in education planning and health services planning.