Factors associated with health-seeking patterns among internally displaced persons in complex humanitarian emergency, Northeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Currently, over two million persons are internally displaced because of the complex humanitarian emergency in Nigeria’s northeast region. Due to crowded and unsanitary living conditions, the risk of communicable disease transmission, morbidity, and mortality among this population is high. This study explored patterns and factors associated with health-seeking among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeast Nigeria to inform and strengthen disease surveillance and response activities. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study conducted during June–October 2022, we employed stratified sampling technique to select 2,373 IDPs from 12 IDPs camps. A semi-structured tool was used to collect data on health-seeking patterns, socio-demographics, households, and IDPs camps characteristics. We classified health-seeking patterns into three outcome categories: ‘facility care’ (reference category), ‘non-facility care’ (patent medicine vendors, chemists, traditional healers, religious centers), and ‘home care/no care’. We performed complex survey data analysis and obtained weighted statistical estimates. Univariate analysis was conducted to describe respondents’ characteristics and health-seeking patterns. We fitted weighted multivariable multinomial logistic regression models to identify factors associated with health-seeking patterns. RESULTS: Of 2,373 respondents, 71.8% were 18 to 39 years old, 78.1% were females, and 81.0% had no formal education. Among the respondents, 75.7% (95% CI: 72.9–78.6) sought ‘facility care’, 11.1% (95% CI: 9.1–13.1) sought ‘non-facility care’, while 13.2% (95% CI: 10.9–15.4) practiced ‘home care/no care’. Respondents who perceived illness was severe (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.15, [95% CI: 0.08–0.30]) and resided in officially-recognized camps (AOR = 0.26, [95% CI: 0.17–0.39]) were less likely to seek ‘non-facility care’ compared to ‘facility care’. Similarly, respondents who resided in officially-recognized camps (AOR = 0.58, [95% CI: 0.36–0.92]), and received disease surveillance information (AOR = 0.42, [95% CI: 0.26–0.67) were less likely to practice ‘home care/no care’ rather than seek ‘facility care’. CONCLUSIONS: This population exhibited heterogeneous patterns of health-seeking at facility and non-facility centers. Perception of illness severity and camps’ status were major factors associated with health-seeking. To enhance surveillance, non-facility care providers should be systematically integrated into the surveillance network while ramping up risk communication to shape perception of illness severity, prioritizing unofficial camps. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13031-023-00552-7.