Factors influencing healthcare use among poor older females under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme in Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana

OBJECTIVE: While studies show that females utilise more healthcare services in later life, data on their healthcare use predictions are limited in Ghana. This study therefore fills this gap by examining the predictors of healthcare use among poor older females under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ghana. A sample of 156 poor older females was extracted from an Ageing, Health, Lifestyle and Health Services Survey which was conducted between 1 and 20 June 2018 in Atwima Nwabiagya District. Sequential logistic regression models were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The fully adjusted model showed that respondents aged 85-89 years (AOR = 0.007, CI 0.001-0.958), those without past illness records (AOR = 0.027, CI 0.002-0.346) and not diagnosed of chronic non-communicable diseases (AOR = 0.003, CI 0.001-0.313) were significantly less likely to utilise a health facility compared with their respective counterparts. Non-vegetables consumers (AOR = 1.2, CI 0.23-2.45) were found to be more likely to utilise healthcare services. These findings have implications for policies towards healthcare use among poor older females in developing countries including Ghana.