Research Article

An Analysis of Social Determinants Influencing Healthcare Utilisation in Selected Urban Slum Settlements in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: A substantial proportion of Nigeria’s urban population resides in slum settlements where structural deficiencies result in exposure to health risks. Understanding the determinants of healthcare service utilization in these environments is essential for improving population health outcomes. While previous scholarship has examined socioeconomic influences on healthcare use, limited attention has been given to identifying the most salient predictors among urban slum dwellers. Methods: This study addresses this gap by employing a mixed-methods research design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Results: The findings indicate that the presence of a known or diagnosed illness is the most significant factor prompting healthcare service utilization among slum residents in Lagos State, South-west Nigeria. Other socioeconomic and contextual variables play comparatively weaker roles. These results highlight the predominance of reactive, illnessdriven healthcare-seeking behaviours in slum contexts. Recommendations: The study recommends the development of targeted health policies and public education programmes that promote preventive care and reorient residents towards more proactive patterns of healthcare utilisation. Key points: Critical determinant of health services utilization, Reactive healthcare orientation, Failed healthcare Policies/facilities.