Association between domains of social support and healthcare utilisation among informal caregivers of older adults in slums, Ghana

Informal caregivers play a crucial role in supporting older adults; however, their health needs remain overlooked, potentially hindering progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3. As ageing populations and disease burdens increase, prioritising the well-being of informal caregivers in resource-poor settings is important. This study aims to understand how the social environment, particularly social support, influences healthcare utilisation among informal caregivers of older adults living in slum areas in Ghana. The study recruited a sample of 458 informal caregivers of older adults living in slum communities within the Greater Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Employing the binary logistic regression models, the association between domains of social support and healthcare utilisation was estimated. The analysis involved utilising odds ratio and confidence interval , with statistical significance set at 0.05 or lower. The study revealed that financial support (OR: 1.914, 95% CI 1.249–2.934) had a positive and statistically significant association with healthcare utilisation. In contrast, emotional support (OR: 1.147, 95% CI 0.707-1.862), instrumental support (OR: 1.368, 95% CI 0.827- 2.264), and informational support (OR: 0.704, 95% CI 0.432-1.148) showed no significant association with healthcare utilisation. The study showed that those with basic education (OR: 4.243, 95% CI 1.259–14.298), those who have never been ill (OR: 4.566, 95% CI 2.715–7.678), and those not diagnosed with NCDs were significantly more likely to utilise healthcare than their counterparts. The results substantially enhance our understanding of the association between financial support and healthcare utilisation among informal caregivers in slum areas. Furthermore, the findings inform the design of targeted healthcare interventions that specifically address the distinctive financial and socioeconomic challenges faced by informal caregivers, thereby contributing to more effective and responsive healthcare strategies in these vulnerable communities.