Publication:

Factors associated with health care utilization among vulnerable households in Oshimili South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria

Background Vulnerable households in Nigeria face persistent barriers utilizing healthcare services, resulting in poor health outcomes. This study assessed the factors associated with healthcare utilization among vulnerable households in Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria.

Methods The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, 349 vulnerable households were enrolled between April and July, 2024. Collected data was analyzed using IBM/SPSS version 25.

Results The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were female (85.4%), while those aged 30–39 years constituted the largest age group (37.2%). The results showed that vulnerable households in Oshimili South LGA experience moderate health challenges, with nearly half (48.4%) falling sick 2–5 times and hypertension (25.2%) being the most common condition. While more than half (54.7%) rated their health as “fair” and 51.3% engaged in daily physical activity, access to medication remained a major concern, with 80.8% reporting occasional difficulties. In terms of healthcare services, most households (76.5%) had a facility in their community, but visits were irregular, with 74.2% attending only sometimes and quality of services were rated “poor” by over half (54.7%). General hospitals were the most used (32.7%) and the majority (58.2%) preferred public facilities,

Conclusions The high prevalence of “Most Vulnerable” households, combined with socioeconomic, cultural and institutional barriers, underscores the need for deliberate interventions to enhance healthcare access and utilization. Targeted social protection programs should also be prioritized to mitigate the health risks faced by vulnerable populations.