The Study of the Health-Seeking Behaviour of Urban Slum Population for Primary Healthcare Services in Vadodara

Health-seeking behaviour plays an important role in determining how frequently individuals access primary healthcare services, especially among vulnerable populations such as those living in urban slums. People living in urban slums face several challenges that affect their healthcare decisions and overall health outcomes. These challenges include poverty, limited health awareness, difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities, and various social and cultural barriers. Therefore, this study examines the health-seeking behaviour of the urban slum population in relation to their utilisation of primary healthcare services in Vadodara. The study followed an empirical cross-sectional research design. Primary data were collected from 400 residents of selected urban slum areas in Vadodara using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered information related to demographic characteristics, awareness of primary healthcare services, preferences for healthcare providers, accessibility and affordability of services, and perceptions regarding the quality of care. The collected data were analysed using SPSS software, applying descriptive statistics, reliability testing, and inferential statistical methods. The findings reveal that although several government primary healthcare facilities are available, their utilisation remains relatively low. This underutilization is mainly influenced by factors such as perceived quality of services, long waiting times, distance from facilities, and the level of trust in healthcare providers. The results also indicate a significant association between socio-demographic factors and the health-seeking behaviour of the urban slum population. The study’s results show that to get people in urban slums to use healthcare more, we need to raise awareness, improve service quality, and make primary healthcare easier to get. The results give healthcare planners and policymakers vital information that can help them improve basic healthcare in urban slums.