Home⇛LPU-St. Cabrini Journal of Allied Medicine⇛vol. 6 no. 1 (2024)

Knowledge on Health Seeking Behavior among the Elderly in Barangay Makiling Calamba

Kristine May Callo | Joanna Kelly Escueta | Hanna Jean Garcia | Mary Kae Judith Garcia | Abby Gayle Peria | Millence Myr Tolentino

Discipline: health sciences (non-specific)

 

Abstract:

The growing elderly population underscores the importance of understanding knowledge of health-seeking behavior, particularly in developing communities where healthcare access may be limited. This study assessed the knowledge of health-seeking behavior among elderly individuals in Barangay Makiling, Calamba City, Laguna, and determined whether significant differences existed when respondents were grouped according to selected demographic variables. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed involving 160 respondents aged 60 years and above selected through stratified random and convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.797) and analyzed using frequency distribution, weighted mean, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed that most respondents were aged 60–69 years, female, Catholic, had attained secondary education, and belonged to low-income households. The respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding health-seeking behavior, with a composite mean of 3.54. The highest-rated indicators reflected awareness of the importance of seeking healthcare, accessibility of healthcare facilities, and participation in preventive health consultations. However, attendance in barangay medical missions received the lowest rating. Results further showed a significant difference in knowledge of health-seeking behavior when respondents were grouped according to educational attainment (p ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were found with respect to age, sex, religion, and monthly family income. The study concludes that elderly residents possess adequate knowledge of health-seeking behavior, with educational attainment being an important factor associated with variations in such knowledge.



References:

  1. Bahram, S., AlSayyad, A. S., Nooh, F. A., Farra, W. A., & Ekri, A. A. (2022). Morbidities and Health-Seeking Behavior of elderly patients attending primary health care in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 10(3), 236–242. https://doi.org/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_743_21
  2. Baral, R., & Sapkota, P. (2018). Health seeking behaviour among elderly people of bharatpur municipality of Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 14(3), 150- 153. https://doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v14i3.21178
  3. Barua, K., Borah, M., Deka, C., & Kakati, R. (2017). Morbidity pattern and health-seeking behavior of elderly in urban slums: A cross-sectional study in Assam, India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 6(2), 345. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.220030
  4. Bhat, S., & Kumar, S. (2016). Study on health care seeking behaviour among elderly in rural area. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, 6(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijmsph.2017.26072016621
  5. De Guzman, A. B., Lores, K. V. A., Lozano, M. C. R., Lozano, M. C., Lu, D. M., Ma, C. E. D., & Macrohon, C. R. L. (2014). Health-Seeking preferences of elderly filipinos in the community via conjoint analysis. Educational Gerontology, 40(11), 801-815. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2014.882110
  6. Domènech-Abella, J., Perales, J., Lara, E., Moneta, M. V., Izquierdo, A., Rico-Uribe, L. A., Mundó, J., & Haro, J. M. (2017). Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Changes in Successful aging in Spain: A Follow-Up Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(8), 1244–1262. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264317714327
  7. Duy, H. M., Lee, J., Han, W., Rajaguru, V., & Jang, S. (2023). The Health-Seeking Behavior of the Elderly with Non-Communicable Diseases in Coastal Areas of Vietnam. Healthcare, 11(4), 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040465
  8. Gabrani, J., Schindler, C., & Wyss, K. (2021). Health seeking behavior among adults and elderly with chronic health condition (s) in Albania. Frontiers in public health, 9, 616014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.616014
  9. Galdas, P. M., Cheater, F., & Marshall, P. (2005). Men and health help‐seeking behaviour: literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(6), 616–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03331.x
  10. Gill, N. (n.d.). Health-Seeking Behaviour Related to Selected Dimensions of Wellness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Western Ontario (Canada). https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7097/
  11. Irwan, A. M., Kato, M., Kitaoka, K., Kido, T., Taniguchi, Y., & Shogenji, M. (2016). Self-care practices and health-seeking behavior among older persons in a developing country: Theories-based research. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 3(1), 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2016.02.010
  12. Latunji, O. O., & Akinyemi, O. O. (2018). Factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among civil servants in Ibadan, Nigeria. Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine, 16(1), 52-60. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6143883/
  13. Ukwaja, K. N., Alobu, I., Nweke, C. O., & Onyenwe, E. C. (2013). Healthcare-seeking behavior, treatment delays and its determinants among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in rural Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-13-25
  14. Zeng, Y., Wan, Y., Yuan, Z., & Fang, Y. (2021). Healthcare-Seeking Behavior among Chinese Older Adults: Patterns and Predictive Factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 2969. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062969
  15. Van Der Meulen Rodgers, Y., & Zveglich, J. E. (2021). Gender Differences in Access to Health Care among the Elderly: Evidence from Southeast Asia. Asian Development Review, 38(02), 59–92. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0116110521500086
  16. World Health Organization: WHO. (2022). Ageing and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
  17. Musoke, D., Boynton, P., Butler, C., & Musoke, M. (2014). Health seeking behaviour and challenges in utilising health facilities in Wakiso district, Uganda. African Health Sciences, 14(4), 1046. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v14i4.36

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic