Students’ perception of healthcare services and factors affecting their utilization at a Nigerian University: a cross-sectional study
- The study at a Nigerian university found that while a majority of students (87.4%) reported using healthcare services, there is a prevalent negative perception (66.9%) towards these services due to dissatisfaction with factors such as cost and quality of care.
- Key factors influencing healthcare utilization include age, study level, perception of healthcare staff, and economic barriers, with older students and those with positive perceptions of staff more likely to use services.
- Barriers like high costs, long waiting times, and unfriendly staff attitudes deter students from utilizing healthcare services, highlighting the need for improved accessibility, effective awareness campaigns, and enhanced service quality by university health services.
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The Importance of Healthcare for University Students
Healthcare service utilization among university students is critical for ensuring their health and academic success. A recent cross-sectional study conducted at a Nigerian university aimed to determine the level of utilization and the factors influencing the utilization of healthcare services by undergraduate students. The study involved a semi-structured online questionnaire and a multistage sampling technique to gather data from a sample of 429 students.
Perceptions and Utilization Rates
The study found that 87.4% of the students reported utilizing healthcare services, with 43.4% indicating that they occasionally used these services. However, these statistics mask a more nuanced picture. Approximately 66.9% of the students had a negative perception of the utilization of healthcare services, with many expressing dissatisfaction with various aspects of the services provided.
Factors Influencing Utilization
Several factors emerged as significant influencers of healthcare service utilization among university students:
- Age: Students over 20 years old were more likely to utilize healthcare services, with an odds ratio (AOR) of 3.6 (95% CI: 1.1–11.6).
- Study Level: Fourth-year students showed the highest likelihood of utilizing healthcare services, with an AOR of 13.8 (95% CI: 5.1–37.4).
- Perception of Healthcare Staff: Students with a positive perception of the attitude of healthcare staff were more likely to utilize these services, with an AOR of 2.5 (95% CI: 1.1–5.9).
- Cost and Accessibility: Economic barriers such as the high cost of drugs (16% of students) and the expense of services (35.9% of students) significantly affected utilization rates.
Common Barriers to Healthcare Utilization
The study highlighted several common barriers to healthcare utilization:
- Cost of Care: The high cost of drugs and medical services was a significant deterrent.
- Waiting Time: Long waiting times were a major complaint, affecting both the perceived quality of care and the likelihood of seeking medical attention.
- Attitude of Healthcare Workers: Unfriendly attitudes and perceptions of incompetence among healthcare workers also influenced decisions about seeking medical care.
- Accessibility and Awareness: The availability and accessibility of healthcare services, as well as awareness campaigns, played crucial roles in encouraging students to seek timely medical assistance.
Comparison with Other Studies
This study found a higher utilization rate compared to a similar study across Nigeria, where only 48.7% of students reported utilizing healthcare services. The higher accessibility and availability of healthcare services at the university, as well as effective awareness campaigns, contributed to this higher utilization rate.
Implications for University Health Services
The findings of this study have significant implications for university health services:
- Improving Accessibility: Ensuring that healthcare facilities are easily accessible and conveniently located can increase utilization rates.
- Awareness Campaigns: Effective awareness campaigns can educate students about the benefits of seeking timely medical assistance.
- Quality of Care: Improving the quality of care by addressing waiting times, staff attitudes, and the overall efficiency of services can enhance students' perceptions and utilization of healthcare services.
- Targeted Social Marketing: Targeted social marketing by healthcare providers can create awareness about the services available, thereby increasing utilization.
Conclusion
The study underscores the critical role of healthcare services in maintaining the health and academic success of university students. By addressing the identified barriers and improving the quality of care, universities can enhance students' perceptions and utilization of healthcare services. This, in turn, can lead to better academic outcomes and improved overall well-being among the student population.
References
- Students' perception of healthcare services and factors affecting their utilization at a Nigerian university: a cross-sectional study. Nature, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75573-0
- Provider-Related Predictors of Utilization of University Health Services. NCBI, doi: 10.1038/nature02463
- Health-seeking behaviour and student perception of health care services. SCIRP, doi: 10.4236/ojnep.2023.123012
- Assessment of students' satisfaction with university health care services. RJHS, doi: 10.4236/ojnep.2023.123012
- Factors affecting utilization of University health services. LWW, doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.1001
