DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN YULI VILLAGE, GANJUWA LGA, BAUCHI STATE

The study is on the determinants of Health Seeking Behavior among rural communities in Yuli, Ganjuwa Local Government Area, Bauchi State. Against the study between three objectives which are to examine the socio-economic and cultural factors affecting the access and utilization of healthcare service in Yuli, Ganjuwa Local government Area of Bauchi state, to determine the level of accessibility and availability of primary health care services centers and to determine the level of utilization of primary health care service centres. This study employed three delay models to predict and understand the topic under study. The surveys research method was used for this study using questionnaire with a sample size of one hundred and twenty six (126). The result found that there are enough primary health care services, people don’t have to go long distance for primary health care services, women access maternal health care services with ease, local and private hospitals provide the required health care services and that each and every individual in Yuli can afford Maternal health care services. The study concluded that the persistence of these socio-economic barriers indicates a need for targeted interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of inequities in healthcare access, thereby improving overall health outcomes for vulnerable populations within the community. Based on the findings the study recommended that government should implement comprehensive health promotion initiatives that incorporate preventative health screenings aimed at young adults. These programs should focus on encouraging proactive health management to prevent the early onset of diseases, fostering a culture of regular health check-ups and early intervention. KEYWORDS: Health, Health Seeking Behavior, Health Care, Access and Utilization.