Healthcare Seeking Behaviour of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Background: The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing globally, and the trend has been projected to continue due to the increasing incidence of diabetes and hypertension among the population. Considering CKD is a chronic condition, it necessitates ongoing monitoring and treatment, and all healthcare workers. The objective of the study is to establish the healthcare-seeking behavior of patients with chronic kidney disease in the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Methods: The study employed a descriptive study design was adopted following a qualitative research method. The study selected ten participants for the interview. An interview guide was used to elicit information from the participants. the data was analyzed using content analysis, where themes were formed.

Results: Participants exhibited varied knowledge relating to their conditions which in a way influenced their health-seeking behaviour. Overall, the participants express positive knowledge and attitude towards their condition and which envisages that it translates into positive healthcare-seeking behavior. Most participants stated that they don’t have any alternative source to seek healthcare services related to CKD. Very few of them would like to seek herbal treatment in addition to the care they receive from the hospital. Almost all the CKD patients were having difficulty in paying for the healthcare services they are receiving at the hospital.

Conclusion: The participants revealed positive health-seeking behaviour, and have developed good faith and trust in healthcare providers. Their major challenge has to do with paying for their healthcare needs as CKD patients. It is thus recommended that health insurance packages should be created for CKD patients.

The paper has contributed to increasing knowledge of the health-seeking behaviour of people living with chronic kidney disease and the financial difficulty they go through, and the need for action to be taken to help chronic kidney disease patients.