Notion of Good Health and Health Seeking Behaviours Among the Elderly Persons in Afaha Urua Essien Community in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
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Abstract
This study investigated the notion of good health and health seeking behaviours among elderly persons in Afaha Urua Essien community in Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Systematic Random Sampling and snowball technique procedures were
used to select elderly persons aged 55 years and above in Afaha Urua Essien community in Etinan Local Government Area. In-depth interviews, personal observation and other qualitative approaches were used in data collection for this study. The poor state of Mbioto II
General Hospital and lack of modern healthcare facilities were found to be a determinant factor in framing the health seeking behaviour of the elderly persons in Afaha Urua Essien community. Also, religion and other socio-cultural factors were seen as hampering health
care services accessibility by the elderly persons in the area. It was concluded that for the elderly in the study area, good health meant absent of pains in the body and the level of availability of health care services determine the health seeking behaviour among the elderly persons in Afaha Urua Essien community in Etinan Local Government Area. It was recommended that the state government should renovate the Mbioto II General Hospital which is closer to the rural people and make available a new and well-equipped health centre
in Afaha Urua Essien community in Etinan Local Government Area
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