SOCIAL CLASS AND PREFERENTIAL HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: A STUDY OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

This study examined the impact of social class on preferential healthcare delivery in healthcarefacilities in Delta State, Nigeria. The study was geographically delimited to Delta State. Tworesearch objectives were established from which two hypotheses were developed. The studywas anchored on Max Weber’s theory of social stratification. The study is descriptive and across-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The structured questionnaire was themain instrument of data collection. The study's population comprised all the people living inDelta State, Nigeria. In line with this, a sample of four hundred (400) respondents was drawnfor the study, using the cluster random sampling technique. Then, data were collected from therespondents using 400 copies of questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with Pearsonproduct moment correlation statistical tool. The analysis revealed that; financial capacity has asignificant impact on access to health facilities and the preferential treatment given to patientsby healthcare practitioners in healthcare facilities in Delta State. Also, political influence has asignificant effect on the behaviour of healthcare practitioners towards patients in healthcarefacilities in Delta State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government shouldimplement a more progressive healthcare financing system that reduces the financial burdenon individuals from lower social classes. This could include subsidizing healthcare costs forthose with lower incomes or expanding the coverage of social health insurance schemes andthere should be a conscious training and sensitization for healthcare professionals, amongothers.