Understanding Health-Seeking Behaviour in Africa Local Communities using U. A. Igun’s Descriptive Model (1979)

Authors

  • Muhammad Zakariyya
    Federal University Dutsin-Ma
  • Aminu Hamisu
    Federal University Dutsin-Ma
  • Mashkur Umar Ibrahim
    Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso College of Advanced and Remedial Studies

Keywords:

African Communities, Health-Care, Health-Seeking-Behaviour, Health Sociology, Igun

Abstract

Health-Seeking Behaviour (HSB) remains a central concern in Sociological and Anthropological studies of health, illness, and care utilization. Understanding how individuals recognize, interpret, and respond to symptoms is vital for improving access to appropriate healthcare. This paper explores U. A. Igun’s (1979) descriptive model of HSB, situating it within broader theoretical and empirical frameworks of health behaviour research. The study synthesizes the contributions of various descriptive and explanatory models, including Suchman’s stages, Andersen’s behavioural model, and Young’s decision-tree model, to identify their major assumptions and limitations. Through a sociological lens, the paper digests Igun’s eleven-stage model and examines its relevance for understanding pluralistic healthcare contexts in traditional African societies. Methods include a qualitative synthesis of literature, conceptual analysis, and interpretive comparison of descriptive frameworks. Findings highlight Igun’s contribution to processual understanding of HSB and underscore the importance of integrating socio-cultural, structural, and behavioural determinants in health research. The paper concludes with recommendations for applying Igun’s model in contemporary research and policy planning.

Dimensions

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Pictural view of the stages of Igun’s descriptive model

Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Zakariyya, M., Hamisu, A., & Ibrahim, M. U. (2025). Understanding Health-Seeking Behaviour in Africa Local Communities using U. A. Igun’s Descriptive Model (1979). FUDMA Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Creative Arts, 1(2), 35-46. https://doi.org/10.70882/fujohssaca.2025.v1(2).32

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2025): FUDMA Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Creative Arts Vol. 1(2)

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Zakariyya, Aminu Hamisu, Mashkur Umar Ibrahim (Author)

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How to Cite

Zakariyya, M., Hamisu, A., & Ibrahim, M. U. (2025). Understanding Health-Seeking Behaviour in Africa Local Communities using U. A. Igun’s Descriptive Model (1979). FUDMA Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Creative Arts, 1(2), 35-46. https://doi.org/10.70882/fujohssaca.2025.v1(2).32