Breaking down healthcare hurdles: understanding the barriers to readiness to seek medical care in the event of illness among residents in Ghana: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Optimal health plays a significant role in enhancing one's quality of life, empowering individuals to actively engage in productive endeavors for wealth generation. Recently, the unhealthy lifestyles of individuals resulting from their healthcare-seeking behavior have gained significant attention in research circles, both at the national and international levels, as his issue has become a central concern for healthcare stakeholders worldwide. This study evaluated the barriers to readiness to seek medical care in the event of illness among residents in Ghana. Methodology: We employed a community-based cross-sectional study design in this study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 400 study participants. Data were collected with a paper-based questionnaire, coded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.6.0.2. Data analysis was carried out in STATA V.16.0. Result Overall, only 193 (48.2%) out of the 400 participants expressed readiness to seek medical care in the event of illness. Further analysis revealed that participants who were educated to the tertiary level were 4.2 times more likely to seek medical care than those with secondary and primary/JHS levels of education AOR = 4.2 (95% CI: 1.73–10.25), p = 0.002. Participants who reported having no form of family support in the event of illness were 0.2 times less likely to seek medical care AOR = 0.2 (95% CI: 0.11–0.34), p = 0.001. More specifically, participants who lacked financial support from their family/relatives were 0.4 times less likely to seek medical care in the event of illness AOR = 0.4 (95% CI: 0.23–0.80), p = 0.008. Furthermore, participants who were not escorted by their family/relatives to the health facility were also 0.4 times less likely to seek medical care in the event of illness AOR = 0.4 (95% CI: 0.24–0.74), p = 0.003. Conclusion In conclusion, our findings emphasize the complex interrelationship between individual, cultural, and structural factors in shaping healthcare-seeking behavior. Resolving these factors through targeted interventions and policies can enhance healthcare utilization, reduce health disparities, and ultimately contribute to the overall well-being and socio-economic development of the community and the country at large.