Exploring the healthcare seeking behaviour among adolecents at Freeman Methodist Preparatory and junior high school in Berekum.

Abstract

The health care seeking behaviour among adolescent is considered poor in the country. The main objective of the study is to assess the health care seeking behaviour among adolescents in the Freeman Preparatory and Junior High School in the Berekum municipality. The study design adopted was a descriptive cross-sectional study design to determine the Health seeking behaviour and among adolescents in Berekum East Municipality. The study population comprised of 80 adolescents aged10 -19 years attending Basic school at Freeman Methodist Preparatory and Junior High School, Berekum. A written questionnaire with both open and close ended questions was used in the exercise to collect information from the participants. 60% strongly agreed that negative attitude of health care providers discourages them from assessing health care when they are sick. Also 53% of the respondents agreed that the distance to health facility discourages them from accessing health care with a little of 6% strongly disagreeing with the statement. On the question of whether respondents get treatment when they are sick, 87% answered in the affirmative while only while 13% responded no. In conclusion, adolescents in the Berekum Municipality and for that matter those in Freeman Methodist Preparatory and Junior High School have challenges when it comes to health care which needs to be addressed. Most of them demonstrated positive attitude towards health in the midst of the challenges and barries.