RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF HEALTHCARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN KOGI STATE

In recent years, efforts have been devoted to enhancing the health care system of Nigeria to provide efficient and reliable health care services to the people. However, insinuations suggest that many people are not utilizing the available healthcare facilities, especially in rural communities. Perhaps, religious attachment is a significant determinant of several behavioral domains. The present study aimed to examine variations in HSB among the rural dwellers of Kogi State, Nigeria, based on religious commitment. Two hundred and sixty-nine Muslim and Christian worshipers chosen from religious centers in different locations of the state participated in the study. The respondents completed a self-report measure of healthcare-seeking behavior and the religious commitment inventory. The result of regression analysis indicated a positive influence of religious commitment on healthcare-seeking behaviors in rural populations. It was concluded that religious commitment should be included in the focus of the healthcare providers in providing all-inclusive care for rural dwellers in Kogi state.