News

LSST Birmingham Lecturer Publishes Groundbreaking Study on Education and Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Lagos Slum Dwellers

Kunal Chan Mehta

By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 8 October 2024

Dr Michael Demehin is the Course Coordinator for LSST’s DMU-accredited courses and Module Lead and Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Sciences at LSST Birmingham. Photo: LSST
 

Dr Michael Olusegun Demehin, a leading healthcare academic from LSST Birmingham, has made a significant contribution to public health research with his latest publication in The Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health, titled “Effect of Educational Attainment on Health-Seeking Behaviour of Urban Slum Dwellers in Nigeria: An Insight from the Lagos State Metropolis.” Co-authored with Uche Isiugo-Abanihe of Lead City University (Nigeria), this pivotal study sheds light on the profound impact of educational attainment on healthcare decisions among residents in Lagos’ most impoverished communities.

 

Commenting on the research, Dr Demehin said: “Our study highlights a paradox in the relationship between education and healthcare access in slum environments. While education is often seen as a tool for empowerment, we found that better-educated residents are less likely to use local healthcare services, which may indicate a deeper systemic failure. It’s a call to action for policymakers to invest in educational opportunities and improve the quality of healthcare available in these communities.”

 

Mr Mohsin Riaz, Dean of LSST Birmingham, added: “We are all immensely proud of Dr Demehin and his ongoing groundbreaking research. His work is a testament to the impact of academic research on real-world issues, underscoring the vital role of education in improving global health outcomes. Dr Demehin’s dedication and commitment to this project are truly inspiring and it reflects LSST’s ambition to engage in research that makes a meaningful difference.”

 

The study’s findings revealed a statistical relationship between higher educational attainment and the utilisation of healthcare services in the slum settlements of Lagos State. The p-value computed for the relationship between educational attainment and healthcare services utilisation was calculated at 0.014, which was statistically significant. A second-level statistical analysis of linear regression showed that the higher the academic attainments of slum dwellers in Lagos State, the less they are likely to use urban slum healthcare facilities. This action is likely influenced by their knowledge of the deteriorating state of urban slum healthcare facilities. The import of these findings further showed the advancement of the conclusions of this research on earlier studies that showed a relationship between these variables without necessarily showing the direction of the relationship.

 
Dr Michael Demehin is an active researcher at LSST Birmingham and empowers his students to focus on research excellence. Photo: LSST
 

Focusing on some of Lagos State’s most densely populated slums — Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Apapa, Shomolu and Lagos Mainland — the study employed a mixed-methods approach, blending qualitative and quantitative data. The research team surveyed 400 participants using a modified Taro Yamane sampling formula, with purposeful and accidental sampling techniques due to a lack of a formal population frame. This innovative approach provided rich insights into the health-seeking behaviours of some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.

 

Dr Demehin’s work offers a critical roadmap for policymakers, urging them to address the structural deficiencies that drive this counterintuitive trend. The study concludes with a strong recommendation for the Nigerian government to implement accessible education policies while urgently improving healthcare infrastructure in slum areas.

 

This research holds far-reaching implications for urban health systems in developing countries, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions like Lagos. By addressing the intertwined challenges of education and healthcare access, it opens new avenues for creating more sustainable, healthy and equitable communities.

 

Read the full paper here.

For more information or to set up an interview with Dr Demehin, please contact the author, Kunal Chan Mehta, at kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.

We hope you enjoy reading LSST News. Join our vibrant academic community and explore endless opportunities for growth and learning at www.lsst.ac/courses or via admissions@lsst.ac. Discover your path at LSST and embark on a transformative educational journey today. Think Higher. Think LSST.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top