A COMPARATIVE WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT IN TERTIARY HEALTHCARE SETTINGS IN NIGERIA ON HEALTHSEEKING PATTERNS AND SERVICE UTILISATION
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Abstract
This study examined health-seeking patterns and utilization of healthcare services among clinical and non-clinical staff in two tertiary healthcare institutions in Nigeria, recognizing that healthcare workers, despite their medical knowledge, often delay care and underutilize preventive services. A comparative facility-based cross-sectional study using a concurrent mixed-method approach was conducted among 460 respondents, comprising 230 clinical and 230 non-clinical staff. Quantitative data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, while qualitative data were obtained through key informant interviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression at a significance level of p < 0.05, with qualitative data analyzed using NVIVO14.
The findings revealed significant differences between clinical and non-clinical staff in age distribution, perceived health status, health behaviors, and health-seeking practices. Inappropriate health-seeking behavior was more prevalent among clinical staff (87.4%) compared to non-clinical staff (80.0%). Overall utilization of healthcare services was poor in both groups, with non-clinical staff slightly more likely to underutilize services (83.9%) than clinical staff (82.2%). Among clinical workers, good utilization of healthcare services was significantly associated with being on regular medication, appropriate health-seeking behavior, and access to health insurance. For non-clinical workers, previous consultation with a doctor and appropriate health-seeking behavior were key predictors of service utilization.
Despite reporting good perceived health status, both clinical and non-clinical staff demonstrated poor engagement with formal healthcare services and inconsistent use of preventive care. These findings highlight the need for institutional policies that promote routine medical check-ups, strengthen occupational health services, expand access to health insurance, and address cultural norms that encourage self-treatment. Improving the health-seeking culture of healthcare workers is essential for safeguarding workforce well-being and sustaining quality healthcare delivery within Nigeria’s tertiary health system.
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