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Factors associated with healthcare utilization among commercial drivers in juaboso district and wiawso municipality of Ghana: A cross sectional analysis.

Dennis Owusu*, Adwoa Konadu-Oware

Background: Research evidence suggests prevalence of multiple poor health conditions among commercial drivers in low and middle-income countries including Ghana. As such, utilization of healthcare among this group is expected to rise with the increasing poor health conditions. Despite this, not much studies have been done on the correlates of healthcare utilization among commercial drivers in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of healthcare utilization among commercial taxi drivers in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional data through questionnaire was gathered from 210 commercial taxi drivers registered with the Ghana Private Transport Union in Juaboso District and Wiawso Municipality of Ghana. Percentages and frequencies were used to describe background characteristics of respondents. Chi-square test and t-test were used to check degree of influence of explanatory variables prior to inclusion in regression analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors that predict healthcare use among the study participants. Results: About 26% of drivers reported utilizing healthcare in the past 12 months. Results show that married taxi drivers (AOR=24.757, C.I: 5.176-118.416), older taxi drivers (AOR=1.050, C.I: 1.006-1.095), taxi drivers who do not engage in physical activity (AOR=3.340, C.I: 1.186-9.406), were significantly more likely to utilize healthcare compared to their respective counterpart. However, uninsured taxi drivers (AOR=0.136, C.I: 0.046-0.406), taxi drivers without past illness (AOR=0.106, C.I: 0.035-0.322), and taxi drivers who have no disability (AOR=0.186, C.I: 0.0600.579) were significantly less likely to use healthcare compared to their respective counterparts. Conclusion: This study suggests the need for the inclusion of multiple significant demographic, socio-economic, health status and lifestyle factors in the formulation of health policy aimed at promoting and improving healthcare utilization among commercial drivers in Ghana.