Exploring intention to seek formal healthcare amid COVID-19: Trends and predictors among the youth in Metro Manila

Abstract

Background:  The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in lockdowns, fear, and anxiety. Analyzing the attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls in seeking formal healthcare is vital due to its manifestation in their intention. Determining the factors that affect this intention would see which factors encourage one's willingness to seek formal healthcare, especially due to the various dynamics introduced by the pandemic.

Objective:  The study sought to determine how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls influence intention in seeking formal healthcare of the youth in Metro Manila during the pandemic.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving a survey of the youth in Metro Manila was conducted.
Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were used to see the relationships of the variables, and how these affect each other.

Results: One hundred sixty youth respondents from Metro Manila were included in the study. Subjective norms had the highest correlation and effect on one's intention to seek formal healthcare during the pandemic. Perceived behavioral controls followed subjective norms in their degree of correlation and were a predictor of intention. Lastly, attitudes had a significantly weak correlation with intention and were not a significant predictor of intention.

Conclusion: The youth gives more bearing to the concern of others regarding their well-being, as well as the challenges perceived in seeking formal healthcare in their intention to seek it. Giving more emphasis on lowering perceived barriers, alleviating concerns, and promoting seeking health during the pandemic would help encourage the youth's intention.