THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG STUDENTS OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY, LOKOJA

Abstract This study examined the influence of socio-economic status (SES) on health-seeking behavior among undergraduate students of Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria, in the context of widening health inequalities in developing nations. Anchored on the Health Belief Model and Fundamental Cause Theory, the research adopted a descriptive survey design with stratified random sampling, drawing 153 respondents across the institution’s seven faculties. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings demonstrated significant SES disparities in healthcare access and utilization. Students from higher SES backgrounds, often supported by educated parents and stable incomes, were more likely to access private hospitals, adopt preventive health measures, and engage with health insurance schemes. Conversely, students from lower SES groups, particularly those with parents in farming, trading, or artisan occupations, relied on self-medication, delayed treatment, or traditional remedies due to financial limitations, low health literacy, and inadequate institutional support. Accommodation type, parental education, and monthly allowance were key predictors of healthcare choices, while gender differences showed female students reporting greater utilization of health services despite financial and cultural barriers. The study further revealed underutilization of the university health centre and the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP), driven by inadequate drug supply, inefficiency, and lack of awareness, Chapter Five concludes that SES is a fundamental determinant of health behavior and outcomes among students and recommends targeted interventions including subsidized healthcare services, stronger TISHIP implementation, health literacy campaigns, and equity-driven campus health policies. The study contributes to sociological and public health scholarship by highlighting how SES continues to shape health behavior among young populations in Nigerian universities, with implications for policy, institutional reform, and student welfare.