Health-seeking behaviour and practices among immigrant retail traders in an urban setting in North-Western Ghana
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 16 July 2021
Issue publication date: 20 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the health-care-seeking behaviour and practices of West African migrants who reside and operate in Wa, Ghana, as itinerant retailers.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was cross-sectional and used the quantitative research approach. The analysis was done on a target population comprising 122 itinerant immigrant retail traders in Wa, Ghana. Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression were used to analyse the data.
Findings
Malaria was the commonest disease among them. Five in ten of the migrants preferred to report malaria episodes to a private health facility than to a government facility. Significant associations were identified between four dimensions (health facility, self-medication, home remedy and consult others) of health-seeking behaviour, and some background characteristics. The main reason why migrants prefer government health facilities was because of their better health personnel. They self-medicated because of easy accessibility of over-the-counter medicine shops. Also, when ill, the migrants usually consulted family members who would be in a position to take them home when their ailment worsens.
Research limitations/implications
Snowball sampling was used to select the respondents which could potentially lead to a sample that is not fully representative of the population in general.
Originality/value
Studies concerning migration and health in Ghana have been focused on internal migrants. Yet, minority immigrant traders equally encounter adverse health conditions but limited studies have been conducted to espouse their health-seeking behaviour. This study imperatively contributes to the subject matter that has limited literature in the country.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the efforts made by all field assistants, immigrants and opinion leaders in the study areas who made this research a success.Funding: This study was self-financed by the authors.
Citation
Yendaw, E. and Tampah-Naah, A.M. (2021), "Health-seeking behaviour and practices among immigrant retail traders in an urban setting in North-Western Ghana", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 286-302. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-04-2020-0040
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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